By Noorazlina Jindeh

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- What began as a seven-year-old’s accidental entry into karate after choosing the wrong sports club has taken Ivy Olivera Donny, 20, to the top of Asian junior karate, with the Sabah athlete winning women’s Under-21 individual kata gold at the 24th 2026 Asian Karate Federation Cadet, Junior and U21 Championships in Amman, Jordan on Sept 10.

Ivy said she had originally intended to join the taekwondo club at St Joseph Primary School in Penampang, only to realise that it was actually a karate club when she attended her first training session.

“When I told my parents, they encouraged me to continue since the equipment had already been bought. Looking back, perhaps this was God’s best plan for me,” she told Bernama.

The eldest of four siblings said her parents had been her biggest source of strength, making sacrifices to support her dream in karate.

Ivy dominated the final, defeating Iran’s Ailin Baharijavadhesari 4-1 to clinch the gold medal at the championships held from Sept 8 to 11.

The national junior karate athlete, who is now training at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil, said hearing the Negaraku being played on the podium was a moment she would cherish for the rest of her life.

“I was honestly surprised because I thought I had lost after the Iranian athlete celebrated her win in the adjacent arena. I only felt relieved and proud after the actual score was announced,” she said.

She said the victory was especially meaningful after she could only manage a bronze at the previous Malaysia Games (SUKMA), which motivated her to bounce back on the international stage.

“I couldn’t bring home a gold medal for Sabah, but I hope this medal can make the people of Sabah proud,” said Ivy, who trains twice a day, six days a week.

She is now back in Bukit Jalil to sharpen her kata techniques and prepare for upcoming international competitions, insisting that her triumph in Jordan was not the end of her journey.

Ivy said the achievement had come with sacrifices, including injuries, being away from her family and financial challenges, but she remained determined to pursue her goals.

She summed up her memorable victory in Jordan in three words: “patience, faith and onsoi”, with “onsoi” meaning “good” or “fine” in the Murut language and commonly used in local Sabah speech.

-- BERNAMA