Wednesday/Day 3: Our final day of eliminations is finally complete!
What an exciting day for Team Canada; every one is talking about how amazing and talented our Team is this year. We have heard so many good compliments!
Guess What? Alexa Littleton will have the opportunity of going for 5 Gold Medals this week! She advanced to the Gold medal rounds in the Girls 13-17 years, -50 kg point fighting division today. She had a tough first fight against a German competitor but really settled in and handled the rest of her competitors with great confidence. As a result, Alexa will be in the finals in her point fighting division, her light contact kickboxing division, two weapons divisions and the Junior Team Forms division. How amazing is that? We are very excited for Alexa and everyone is looking forward to watching her compete in her finals on Thursday and Friday.
Our 12 and under, junior girls, -45 kg point fighting competitor, Jessica Ticehurst had an amazing day. This was Jessica's very first competition at the World Championships. Jessica came out with quick hands and quick kicks and she ended up winning her first fight 9-4 and her second fight 8-4. We were so excited for Jessica because most students are pretty nervous their first time out competing, but Jessica seemed very confident and relaxed and it definitely showed in her matches (Her Mom later told me, Jessica was feeling pretty nervous the night before!). Next, Jessica advanced into the semi-finals against a German competitor. It was such an amazing fight that was tied with about 6 seconds left and the German competitor scored a point and ended up winning the match 5-4. It was so close for Jessica!! Regardless of the result, Jessica was super excited to win the Bronze medal and we could not be happier for her. Way to go Jessica!
In the girls 13-17 years, -45 kg point fighting division Nicole Triplett fought a tough match against a Scotland competitor. It was also tied right until the last few seconds, when Nicole threw a mighty reverse punch to win the match! Nicole advanced to the Gold medal finals which will be held on Thursday. We're looking foward to Nicole's final match which will be held against a fellow Canadian Teammate from Ottawa.
Nicole's brother, Mitchell Triplett won a bronze medal today in his boy's 12 and under, -45 kg light contact kickboxing division. Mitchell fought an amazing competitor from Germany. Mitchell stayed in the fight 'punch for punch,' but there were a few kicks in favor of the German competitor who will now be advancing to the Gold medal finals. It was a great fight Mitchell!
Sempai Laura Schumacher will be advancing to the Gold medal finals in the Women's, Veteran's +35 years Traditional Kata division. Laura looked crisp and powerful in her form Ara Kaki Unsu. Laura will set the pace for Team Canada tomorrow as Traditional forms is the first division to start off the Finals at this year's World Championships. Go Laura Go!!
Junior Black Belt's Nasrudeen Muhammed (boys 12 and under, -45 kg light contact kickboxing) and Alysha Morrison (girls 13-17 years, -50 kg point fighting) both fought well today. It was the first World Championship competition for both competitors and we hope they enjoyed the experience as much as we enjoyed watching them compete.
Sempai Jeff Muir competed in the Men's Veteran's +35 years Traditional Kata division today. Jeff had a strong kata performance and just missed out on finishing in the top four for the finals. Sempai Jeff will now be focusing all his energy towards competing in his light contact kickboxing finals on Thursday. We can't wait! :-)
Shihan and I would also like to add how important Sempai Don Harper, Sempai Les Wolfenden and Sempai Darren Farnel have been to this week's competition. All three Sempai's have volunteered their time to help referee and judge in the forms and fighting divisions. The days of competition have been long and tiring, but without their help, who knows how long these days of eliminations would have been. Thank you very much! We really appreciate your help and the athletes appreciate your time and dedication to the sport.
We are now heading into the final two days of competition. I wasn't joking in my previous post when I mentioned we had a Canadian competitor in almost every final competition on Thursday and Friday. This is also the first World championships where Canada has a 'Team' in the finals of every Team Fighting division. Our Men's and Women's Teams, both Junior boy's teams and both Junior Girls teams are fighting in the finals. We're so excited about this and wish all of our Teams and competitors great success in the finals!
Only 2 more days to go!! I'll be back tomorrow after our first day of finals to report on our Gold, Silver and Bronze count.
I've added more pictures today in the photo gallery. Hope it makes you all feel like you're here with our Bernardo competitors!
Thanks for checking in on us! "Talk" to you tomorrow!
Sempai Tammy
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