LONDON: Malaysian teenager, Santhia Subramaniam, 16, was crowned World Female Junior Kickboxing champion for the 55kg category at the World Kickboxing Union Championship here last night, beating the champions from Germany and England. Santhia won in a two round two minute non stop fighting-kicking and punching event.

In the one week championship which ended last night at the Radisson Blue Hotel in west London, the Malaysian team won a total of fourteen medals; with four gold and the rest silver and bronze, enough to make this a memorable Merdeka win to take back to the country.

In the under 12 and below, Danial Arthur Stanlan won two gold medals for male under 25 kg for two events; light contact and point fighting. He also won silver in individual Korean forms and a bronze in team forms for the under 17.

Dominique Williamson, 16, won gold in Korean form for the under 17 category. The Korean style is a division where all styles of martial arts from Korea compete.

According to Grandmaster AVS Bathi Allimuthu, president of (WKU) Xtreme Malaysia who led the seven fighters as well as one referee and two coaches, said the team had put together a special effort for Merdeka.

Allimuthu himself presented Malaysia with a gold medal seven years ago when Malaysia celebrated her 50th independence, by becoming the world champion during the championship in Germany.

“The mood after the victory was wonderful with the team waving the Malaysian flag,” said Allimuthu.

He added, Malaysia has been participating in the world championship for the past thirteen years. This year, 33 countries participated including Germany, Canada, USA and England.

The team, who was accompanied by their parents to give them support, will leave for home tomorrow (Monday).

-NST