Kuala Lumpur, Jul 2 (IANS): Several Malaysian Indian women have done well in the Feminine Cup karate championships now underway in France.

Shakila Salni Jeffry Krishnan achieved a rare honour for Malaysian karate when she was selected to represent an international Rest of the World Team in an exhibition match against France last weekend.

Shakila had impressed by winning a bronze medal at the Feminine Cup karate championships in Hyeres, France to earn her spot on the international team.

National coach P. Arivalagan is pleased with the improvement being shown by Malaysia's second-liners, who are increasingly challenging the senior players for places in the national squad, New Straits Times said Friday.

"I am satisfied with the performance of the entire team, particularly with the emergence of young athletes who could soon join the senior team and become a formidable force in the region," said Arivalagan in an e-mail from France.

"Another back up athlete, T. Sharmila also performed well but lost in the early rounds due to lack of exposure as this was her first international competition outside of Malaysia."

G. Yamini was the only other Malaysian to win a medal when she fell to a Tunisian rival in the semi-finals of her category to earn bronze.

Players from 20 countries competed in the women's only championships.