NANJING, Aug 18 — Mohana Mariappen, Malaysia’s sole representative for the taekwondo event has vowed to qualify for at least the quarter-finals of the second 2014 Youth Olympic Games festival here.
The games are from Aug 16-28. Mohana is set to take part in the women’s under-63kg category on Wednesday at the D Hall of the Nanjing International Exppo Centre.
“I don’t feel nervous despite being the sole national representative for the event because I have performed alone many times before. “I will try to do my best to qualify at least for the quarter-finals and only think of a medal after that,” she told Bernama today.
The athlete who garnered fourth spot at the 2014 YOG qualifying championship
at the World Taekwondo Youth Championship in Taiwan in March said she dreamed of contributing a medal but thought it was quite impossible due to the many world-class athletes competing, especially those from Jordan, South Korea, among others.
The form five student, who is due to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination (SPM) said her participation at 2014 YOG did not affect her focus on her studies because she could still hold study groups with other friends who were also competing in Nanjing.
“Wherever we are, we will study together and it is a cheerful time for us,” she added. Malaysia has yet to win any medal on the second day of the championship.
The National Sports Council and the Malaysian Olympic Council had not set any medal target for the national contingent performing at 2014 YOG.
Other than taekwondo, Malaysia also sent athletes for aquatics (swimming and diving), badminton, gymnastics (artistic and gymrama), golf, archery, shooting, athletics, sailing and equestrian. — Bernama
