AMMAN, Jordan — Labuan karate made history after national junior athlete Nur Aneesa Aira Mohamad Affendi clinched the gold medal in the Women’s Junior Individual Kata at the 24th AKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championships 2026 here yesterday.
Labuan Karate Association president Renshi Aswadee Taba said Aira’s victory was a historic achievement for the island’s karate development after a 34-year wait.
“This is a historic moment for Labuan karate. After 34 years, we have finally produced an Asian champion, and Aira’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our athletes, coaches and everyone involved in developing karate in Labuan,” he said.
Aira, who won bronze in the same category at last year’s edition, defeated Jordan’s representative 4-1 in the opening round before securing a 5-0 victory over Kuwait in the semi-finals.
She then delivered a confident performance in the final to beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 and claim the gold medal and the 2026 Asian Junior Karate title.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Labuan Karate, which was established in 1992, while also reflecting the island’s continuing contribution to Malaysia’s karate talent development.
Another Labuan-born figure, national Kata coach Mohd Norfarhan Nordin, has played an important role in developing Malaysia’s Kata programme and nurturing young athletes to compete at the highest level in Asia.
Aira’s achievement also added to Labuan’s medal record at the Asian Karate Championships, following Muhammad Aiqal Asmadie’s bronze in the Men’s U21 Individual Kata in 2022.
Four years later, Aira raised the bar by securing Labuan’s first gold medal at the championships.
The 2026 Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships brings together young athletes from 21 Asian countries and is among the region’s key competitions for developing young karate talent.
Iran has sent the largest delegation for this edition with 41 athletes, followed by hosts Jordan with 40 and Chinese Taipei with 39.
Malaysia’s campaign in Amman is not over, with another Labuan athlete, Diya Khalish Kasryanto, set to compete in the Women’s Junior Kumite -66kg category.
Aira’s historic victory provides a strong start for the Malaysian contingent, with hopes now resting on Diya to create another proud moment for Labuan and Malaysia.
