Karate Coach Sharmendran Promoted to Lead Senior Squad
Kuala Lumpur, December 10 (Bernama) – National karate back-up team head coach R. Sharmendran has been promoted to the frontline as he now temporarily helms the senior squad with immediate effect.
Filling a Vacancy
Malaysian Karate Federation (MAKAF) secretary-general Mohd Razlan Shah said the decision was made to fill the vacancy left by Egyptian Tamer Abdelraouf Mohamed Mourssy, whose contract expires at the end of this year.
Job Scope
The job scope for Sharmendran, a four-time SEA Games gold medallist, is not only to monitor the performance of the senior team but also that of the national back-up squad.
Performance Review
"We don’t know yet how long Sharmendran can hold this (temporary) position but we will gauge his performance in six months as there will be an important tournament next year before the (2025 Thailand) Sea Games (in December), which is the Southeast Asian Karate Federation (SEAKF) Championships in Brunei next April," Razlan said after the working committee (JKK) meeting at the National Sports Council (NSC) today.
Assistance
Sharmendran will be assisted by several coaches, including S. Senthil Kumaran and L. Kunasilan for the senior team while Mohd Hatta Mahamut will handle the backup squad.
Permanent Candidate
Meanwhile, Razlan said MAKAF still does not have a permanent candidate to fill the vacancy left by Tamer and that any decision taken would only be made after seeing Sharmendran’s performance in the SEAKF Championships.
"For now, there is no candidate (for permanent head coach)… we will look into that in the next three to six months," he said.
Conclusion
Sharmendran’s temporary promotion to lead the senior karate squad is a significant move by the Malaysian Karate Federation to ensure a smooth transition and to prepare the team for upcoming tournaments. His experience as a former outstanding karateka and possessing a Level Two coaching certificate make him a strong candidate to lead the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was Sharmendran promoted to lead the senior squad?
A: Sharmendran was promoted to fill the vacancy left by Egyptian Tamer Abdelraouf Mohamed Mourssy, whose contract expires at the end of this year.
Q: What is Sharmendran’s job scope?
A: Sharmendran’s job scope includes monitoring the performance of the senior team and the national back-up squad.
Q: How long will Sharmendran hold the position?
A: The duration of Sharmendran’s temporary position will be reviewed after the SEAKF Championships in April next year.
Q: Will MAKAF have a permanent candidate to fill the vacancy?
A: MAKAF does not have a permanent candidate to fill the vacancy left by Tamer and will look into it in the next three to six months.