Kicking into gear: Thevendran, Mandy spearhead Malaysia’s early medal hunt

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Malaysia’s medal hopes at the 2026 Asian Games rest on karateka K. Thevendran and wushu athletes Mandy Cebelle Chen and Mohd Danish Aizad Mohd Firdaus Chua, who begin competing on the opening day in Aichi and Nagoya. Their performances are crucial for securing early medals, with Thevendran returning to a reinstated karate weight class and Chen and Danish building on recent international successes.

Malaysia’s medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games hinge on early performances from karateka K. Thevendran and wushu athletes Mandy Cebelle Chen and Mohd Danish Aizad Mohd Firdaus Chua, who begin their campaigns on the opening day of competition. The karate events are taking place in Aichi, while the wushu contests are held in Nagoya.

Thevendran, 22, a rising star who claimed gold in the men’s kumite below 55kg category at last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, returns to the same weight division after its reintroduction to the Asian Games program. This category had been excluded from the previous two editions of the Games in Jakarta (2018) and Hangzhou (2023). Born in Kuala Lumpur, Thevendran sees this debut as an opportunity to build on his growing experience, including a bronze medal from the 2025 Asian Karate Championships in Uzbekistan.

“I have nothing to lose,” Thevendran said ahead of the competition. “I will focus on clearing each round with an open mind.” His primary opposition is expected to come from Kazakhstan’s Zholaman Bigabyl, a two-time Asian Championships titleholder.

Joining Thevendran in the karate lineup is H. Sureeya Sankar, a three-time SEA Games gold medallist who is competing in the men’s kumite below 60kg category. This marks Sureeya’s second appearance at the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s wushu contingent includes Mandy Cebelle Chen and Mohd Danish Aizad Mohd Firdaus Chua, both of whom will compete in Nagoya in their respective disciplines. Mandy, 23, who hails from Selangor, will take part in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian all-around event. She previously won silver at the World Taijiquan Championships held in Singapore two years ago. Danish will compete in the men’s changquan category and is a former silver medallist in the same event at the 2024 Asian Wushu Championships in Macau.

Both athletes aim to build on their international success as they seek to contribute to Malaysia’s early medal haul in the 19th edition of the Asian Games. The karate and wushu competitions begin on September 20, setting the stage for Malaysia to make an impact in the multi-sport event hosted across various venues in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.