Heavyweight battle for Gold Cup spot

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

JAMAICA's super heavyweight contenders are causing anxious moments for the selectors of the team for the July 4 International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) Gold Cup, at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Shiah Shukura, Bruce McFarlane and Sean Barnes are all eligible and fine-tuning their skills. However, only one will make the cut for the five-man team event.

Jamaica, three-time world continental team-fighting champions, will start favourites to defend their title on home soil and the fighters are vying for one spot per weight division.

Shukura of Montego Bay is Jamaica's most-improved big man in the last two years, medalling in individual competition at the US Open in 2008 and 2009 - silver on both occasions - when he lost to Murif Horstmann.

McFarlane, however, has been the most consistent super heavyweight for years, winning individual gold at the US Open in 2008, and taking many other Seido world titles.

Barnes, the combined team invitee of the year, will be hard pressed to upstage the top two super heavies.

Whereas the super heavyweight division will be a toss-up between Shukura and McFarlane, Alrick Wanliss, Nicholas Dussard and Kenneth Edwards are sure starters for the micro, light and heavyweight spots in the 11-man squad.

Jamaica, who are enjoying a 35-match unbeaten streak, will be going all out for victory before departing for Orlando, Florida, where they will face the same teams in the second leg of World Continental team-fighting championship at the US Open.

Sentimental attachments

Team captain Jason McKay said fighting at home as champions means a lot to the team dubbed the Busta Fighters.

"We are fighting on local soil for the first time with a 35-match win streak stretched over five years," he pointed out.

"We consider the tournament important as we're defending the team-fighting title on home ground.

"Apart from competing for the coveted Gold Cup, we're defending our title as unbeaten ISKA world team-fighting champs," McKay added.

International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) world champions, Argentina, were the first qualifiers.

Former world champs Poland will represent Europe; world bronze medallists Canada are in for North America; the Pacific region is represented by New Zealand and Japan are in as Asian champions.

McKay said there were no surprises among the qualifying teams.

"Everybody we expected are in and this is definitely the best of the best coming for us. It is going to be a difficult task but I'm sure we'll be up to it," he pointed out.

FIGHTERS' STATUS

• Alrick Wanliss a certain pick - microweight.
  
• Nicholas Dussard a certain pick - lightweight.
  
• Kenneth Edwards a sure pick - heavyweight.
  
• Scott Wright, favourite for middleweight.
  
• Dwayne Vascianne, a middleweight and will have to get past Scott Wright to qualify.
  
• Bruce McFarlane - favourite for super heavyweight spot.
  
• Shiah Shukura - strong possibility for super heavyweight pick.
  
• Sean Barnes - super heavyweight invitee of the year.
  
• Kevin McDowell - failed in his bid for super heavyweight spot to Vietnam, losing out to Bruce McFarlane, but still a possibility.
  
• Arthur Barrows - ineligible, no training hours.
  
• Jason McKay - ineligible, primary organiser of event.