While many would have retired after suffering a serious injury, the 30-year-old exponent’s determination to participate should be commended, as he handed the national squad its third gold medal today.

In the final at Ninh Binh Province Sports Gymnasium, his experience certainly helped him defeat his Indonesian opponent Ignatius Joshua Kandou 3-1.

Vietnamese Duc Thinh Chu had to settle for bronze after beating Prince Izmen Louis Alejo Escover of the Philippines 9-1.

Sharmendran advanced to the final by defeating Vietnamese Chu Duc Thinh 3-1 and Alejo Prince Izmen Louis Escover of the Philippines 10-3.

H Sureeya Sankar and C Shahmalarani, both newcomers, won gold in the men’s 67kg kumite and women’s 50kg kumite categories yesterday.

Sharmendran’s win ensured the Malaysian karate team achieved its target of three gold medals, with one day of competition remaining.

He said this was his first competition since undergoing an operation on his right knee, which required almost eight months to recover.

“I had barely six weeks to prepare for the SEA Games and defend my gold.”

Meanwhile, Amirah Syahirah Azlan won bronze in the women’s under 68kg kumite and the women’s kata team of Lim Hui Ling, Chang Sin Yi and Khaw Yee Voon took another bronze.