LABUAN: The Universal Shotokan Karate Labuan (USK) team delivered an impressive performance on the 15th Silent Knight International Open Karate Championship 2026 stage by finishing among the top five, held at Stadium Titiwangsa from April 16-19.
Competing against 1,955 athletes from 80 teams representing countries such as Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Syria and Denmark, the Labuan-based squad held its own against a strong international field.
A total of 20 athletes represented USK Labuan and returned with a commendable haul of five gold, two silver and six bronze medals across various kata and kumite categories, further elevating the profile of the Federal Territory on the global karate stage.
Among the standout performers were Ho Chiang Seng, who secured gold in the veteran kata category, Muhammad Adil Mohd Badruddin in the male kumite 14–15 years below 63kg category, Ayqal Mohd Dzulfadly in the 12–13 years below 55kg kumite event, and Syarulniza Abdul Jamil, who triumphed in the women’s senior kumite below 61kg division.
The boys’ team kata event for ages 10 to 13 also contributed a gold medal through the combined efforts of Aqib Aimar, Ayqal, Jayden Ho and Khaidyn Nazeem.
Silver medals were captured by Jayden Ho in the male kumite 10–11 years above 45kg category and Sarifin Tan in the senior female kata event, while the bronze medals were secured by the female cadet junior team kumite trio of Martina Anne, Nur Ariesya Dayana and Nur Aleesya Dayana, as well as Mohamad Aqib Aimar Mohamad Affendi and Jayden Ho in the boys’ kata 10–11 years category.
Additional podium finishes came from Miegal in the girls’ kumite 10–11 years below 40kg event and Nur Aleesya Dayana Asmadie in the female cadet kata category.
The team kata female cadet-junior squad, comprising Erika Kathleen, Nur Aleesya Dayana and Nur Ariesya Dayana, also contributed to the bronze medal tally.
A team spokesperson said the overall achievement reflects the athletes’ discipline, technical ability and the effectiveness of the structured training programme implemented by USK Labuan’s coaching staff.
The team is now looking ahead to maintaining its momentum, with preparations already underway for the upcoming national junior championship scheduled to take place in Selangor at the end of April.
