Sweet revenge for Edwards

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

COACH Claude Chin has declared Kenneth Edwards as Jamaica's big hope in tae kwon do for the 2012 London Olympics after the heavyweight's fantastic showing at the United States Open in Orlando, Florida, on the weekend.

Edwards, who will be seeking to qualify for the Olympics, won one of two gold medals for the combined martial arts team at the world's biggest martial arts open, defeating New Zealand's Carl Van Roon in overtime to avenge his Gold Cup semi-final loss at home the previous week.

The pair of Jason McKay and Keith Edwards also regained their two-man team title, handing the combined team a second major win in a week after their successful defence of the World Continental Team Fighting championship at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

"Kenneth left straight for New York where he will continue training in Olympic-style tae kwon do and he's our biggest hope of winning our first medal in taekwondo," Chin pointed out.

Televised vengeance

Edwards, who was beaten by the impressive Van Roon in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup in Jamaica on July 4, got sweet revenge on a world-televised stage on Sunday's 'Night of Champions', which was shown live on ESPN.

Van Roon entered the showdown with a big reputation from his exploits in Jamaica where he had spectacularly knocked out Japan's representative, as well as former world champion, Argentina's Jonathan Batista, in the final with reverse kicks.

Edwards, who had narrowly lost to Van Roon in the semi-finals in Jamaica, battled the Kiwi to a draw after full time in a match of speed and skill.

However, Edwards, a point-sparring champion, grabbed the upper hand in the tiebreaker. Unlike regular time, which was scored as a continuous sparring event, Edwards won the bout with a single technique in the last five seconds of extra time.

Taste of success

Meanwhile, McKay and Keith Edwards tasted success in the two-man team event, regaining the title they had won in 2006.

The former US Open gold medallists advanced to the final where they faced the British kick-boxing team. After a close battle, Jamaica won 10-9 with Edwards anchoring the team to victory in the last three seconds of the match.

Middleweight Scott Wright and hyperweight Sean Barnes, who had failed to medal at home in the Gold Cup on July 4, won individual bronze medals in their respective divisions after rough and close matches.

Jamaica rested Alrick Wanliss and Nicholas Dussard after the previous Sunday's bruising encounter at the National Indoor Sports Centre, where the Busta Fighters won their fourth straight hold on the World Continental Team Sparring Championship.