Nigel Harman delivers a headache with eight-count in the flyweight final. Kevin Meija recovered to win in sudden death overtime.
This Sunday marks the conclusion of the 2006 Junior National Championships, the first National game held in Saskatoon since 1987.
Despite the evening mosquito swarms and notable lack of a nearby Tim’s, all three days of competition (hosted by Kees Taekwondo) were marked by spirited and well-organized competition.
Poomse competition ends early Friday Morning at the U of S PAC.
The newly built University of Saskatchewan PAC building was an ideal facility for these games. Although grandstand seating was available, a second floor observation deck provided a clear view of all five rings (12×12 meters each, including safety zone) for those who didn’t mind standing.
On Friday, colour belt competitors were treated to the same awesome venue and a taste of sparring on full-sized rings at the annual Kees Cup.
Kevin Wedge fails to land a spinning hook counter to Siddhartha Bhat in the Div-A featherweight final.
How do you judge over two hundred poomse competitors in under two hours? Yeah… I don’t know, but it reportedly happened Saturday morning, leading into the opening ceremony, followed by division B and C kyorugi.
Sunday was the big day for 250 division A (age 14 to 17) competitors, each vying for the top spot that would send them to the Junior World Championships in Vietnam this July. Amid the fast-paced fights and few cases of questionable sportsmanship were some surprise upsets, including Kevin Wedge’s (B.C.) loss to Ontario’s Siddhartha Bhat after taking gold (fin weight) at Seniors just two weeks earlier. B.C.’s Yvette Yong again demonstrated her amazing technical ability by taking back-to-back gold at Seniors (fin) and Juniors (feather).
For many players the next challenge will be the World Cup Team Trials in Montreal on July 1, where the Canadian Team will be selected for the World Cup (Bangkok, mid-September) and Pan Am Qualification Tournament (Cali Columbia, late-September).
Official results for the Junior Championships are available through WTF Canada.
Yvette Yong lands a counter to win 5-3 and take gold in Div-A featherweight.
Eric Phamhung wins the Div-A lightweight final on the new 7-point spread rule (9-2).
Maxime Dube gets air with fast double kicks that carried him to gold in Div-A bantamweight.
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