KUALA LUMPUR: Four-time Sea Games champion R. Sharmendran announced his retirement from karate today but will still serve as a development coach.
The 31-year-old will take up the coaching role next month.
Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said Sharmendran will no longer be a part of the Podium Programme but will continue in a different role.
"Sharmendran has retired as an athlete but will focus on coaching the development team," said Azmi after the joint-working committee meeting with the National Sports Council (NSC) today.
"We need him to develop our backup athletes."
Sharmendran had undergone six surgeries over nine years. Last month, he underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery on his left knee.
He picked up the injury during a training camp in Egypt in June, and it hampered his performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
He missed out on the Asiad bronze medal after going down 8-0 to Nazim Nurlanov of Kyrgyzstan in the men's Kumite below 75kg repechage round.
Azmi said Makaf has identified 16 exponents for the Podium programme and another 16 for the development squad.
Egyptian Tamer Mourssy will take charge of the Podium team, assisted by former national exponents L. Kunasilan and S. Senthil Kumaran.