Amman: 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 September 10. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ivy originally intended to join the taekwondo club at St Joseph Primary School in Penampang, only to realize it was actually a karate club when she attended her first training session. Her parents encouraged her to continue since they had already bought the equipment. Reflecting on the turn of events, Ivy remarked, "Perhaps this was God's best plan for me." The eldest of four siblings credited her parents as her biggest source of strength, acknowledging the sacrifices they made to support her karate aspirations. In the championship final, Ivy dominated her opponent, defeating Iran's Ailin Baharijavadhesari 4-1 to secure the go ld medal in the event held from September 8 to 11. Now a national junior karate athlete training at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil, Ivy described hearing the Negaraku played on the podium as a cherished moment. She was initially surprised, thinking she had lost after seeing the Iranian athlete celebrate in an adjacent arena, but felt relieved and proud once the scores were announced. The victory was particularly meaningful for Ivy after she only managed a bronze at the previous Malaysia Games (SUKMA), motivating her to make a comeback on the international stage. Although she couldn't bring home a gold medal for Sabah, she expressed hope that her recent success would make the people of Sabah proud. Currently back in Bukit Jalil, Ivy is focused on honing her kata techniques and preparing for future international competitions, emphasizing that her triumph in Jordan marks just the beginning of her journey. Despite the sacrifices involved, including injuries, time away from family, and financi al challenges, Ivy remains determined to achieve her goals. She summed up her memorable victory in Jordan with three words: "patience, faith, and onsoi," the latter meaning "good" or "fine" in the Murut language, commonly used in local Sabah speech.