Karate exponent Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan has been named as Malaysia’s flag-bearer for next month’s Indonesia Asian Games. File pix
Karate exponent Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan has been named as Malaysia’s flag-bearer for next month’s Indonesia Asian Games. File pix

KUALA LUMPUR: Karate exponent Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan has been named as Malaysia’s flag-bearer for next month’s Indonesia Asian Games.

Syakilla was given the nod ahead of shuttler Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David (squash), Pandelela Rinong (diving), S. Kumar (hockey) and Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy (sailing).

Olympic Council of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said his committee picked Syakilla as the sport will be an Olympic event for the first time at the 2020 Tokyo edition.

“Furthermore, she is ranked No 1 in Asia and also the reigning Asian Games and Sea Games champion in her event,” said Norza after chairing OCM’s executive committee meeting on Tuesday.

On the Asian Games medal target, Norza said the council will only make an announcement after consulting Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

The Asian Games, hosted in Jakarta, Indonesia is from Aug 18 to Sept 2.


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