Ivan and friends kick their way to kata gold

Published: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 4:40:00 PM
Updated: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 4:49:16 PM

Ivan and friends kick their way to kata gold

BY ASHREENA PILLAI

Penang's Ivan Oh (left), Hoe Thomson and Joshua Wong (on the ground) in action during the men's Team Kata (demonstration) final at the Sukma Games in Perlis. - GARY CHEN/ The Star.

   

KANGAR: Penang’s Ivan Oh Theng Wei is not afraid of a little blood, sweat and tears – not if it means landing a gold medal at the Malaysia Games (Sukma).

The 17-year-old, along with Hoe Thomson, 21, and Joshua Wong Jia Yi, 20, clinched the gold in the men’s team kata event at the Sri Kayangan Hall, Perlis Matriculation College in Arau on Sunday.

The Penangites delivered an impressive performance for a 5-0 victory over a Perlis team comprising Howart Tan Lia Jie, Ong Yi Kai and Yong Ryotaro.

The bronze went to Johor’s Chun Jet San, Loh Zheng Xi and You Yew Quan and Sabah’s Einstien Majanil, Eric Lo Yann Shin and Reginals Alexander.

“I had made a vow to myself to win today (yesterday),” said Ivan, who is with the national development squad.

The Form Five student of Chung Ling High School in Air Itam will be sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this November but that didn’t stop him from training for three to six hours daily at the dojo in Transfer Road.

“It’s not a chore for me to attend training. It’s tough, but I know it’s something that I have to do. Thomson and Joshua are of a much-higher standard ... so, I have a lot of catching up to do. I’m in this for the long haul and I’ll keep competing even when I go to college,” said Ivan, who plans to take up accountancy.

It was clean sweep by Penang in the kata competition as they also bagged the women’s team kata event.

The trio of Celine Lee Xin, Khaw Yee Voon and Zoe Wong Jia Rou beat Sarawak’s Dayangku Nurdiyana, Nadzirah Tuwah, Nurjannaj Tuwah 5-0.

Johor’s Lim Sin Yi, Tan Hui Ling and Tan Hui Yi and Sabah’s Gloria Ho, Vellenda Agustine and Patrina Saidin took home the bronze.

On Saturday, Thomson and Celine bagged the men’s and women’s individual kata golds respectively.