Our Technical Manager, David Lee-A-Ping, has something to be proud about but his modesty did not allow him to share the good news before now. Guardian General employee e-newsletter had to literally dig it out of him.

 

His two children, Kevin age 13 and Kathrine age 11, competed in the 2006 Chicago Open International Taekwondo Championships last August and brought back for Trinidad and Tobago four medals (three gold medals and one bronze). Kevin and Kathrine were part of a small contingent of four junior athletes who proudly represented their country at these championships.

 

Kathrine competed in the Girls 11 to 12 age group in two events, namely Poomsae (Forms) and Gyoroogi (Sparring) and won both her events. Gyroogi is a full contact sport. Kevin entered for the same two events in the Boys 13 to 14 age group and won Gold in Gyoroogi and Bronze in Poomsae. It was their first International Competition at which 18 countries participated. It was also the first time, ever, that Trinidad & Tobago participated in a Poomsae competition at an international level.

 

Kevin and Kathrine started Taekwondo three years ago at Euge Taekwondo Academy under the watchful eyes of instructor Franklyn Eugene. They have made steady progress to their current rank of Red Belt and are working towards achieving Black Belt status.

 

"Our desire is to represent our country at senior level in a few years time", says Kevin and Kathrine, "with the ultimate objective of bringing home Olympic Medals". We are looking towards London 2012 and beyond. Daddy David is very supportive and says that the Chicago trip was the start of those preparations. He hopes to be able to afford at least one international competition a year.

 

"Preparing future elite athletes in any sport is an expensive business and the support infrastructure needs to be improved", says David. He continues, "to get to those levels athletes must compete at international level on a regular basis. In addition, all the other professional support services must be available, for example coaching, nutrition/health, sport injury/medicine, physiotherapy, sport psychology, and the like". "Proper training facilities are also essential".

 

Submitted by: David Lee-A-Ping

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