Lady Knights score shocking win over US

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

JAMAICA's female combined martial arts team, the McKay Lady Knights, on Saturday pulled off a major upset over the United States at the Battle of the Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beating their more heralded rivals 5-1 on points.

It was a nail-biting finish for the young Jamaican team in its third outing, maintaining the Lady Knights' unbeaten streak after victories over Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam earlier this year.

Captain Sheckema Cunningham got the Lady Knights off to a flying start against fellow microweight Zarina Ikromova, a former Tajikistan national team member, who has already been selected for the United States' team to the 2011 International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championships in New Zealand.

Ikromova had beaten Cunningham in New York last September at the New York Open.

Highly motivated

However, the highly motivated Jamaican captain gave a clinical display, coming off her back foot with textbook back-foot kicks, which gave the American champ no chance to get into a rhythm.

Shocked by Ikromova's loss, the Americans decided to counteract with Kiabeth Jimenez, their 2010 national lightweight champion, in an expected matchup with Jamaica's biggest lightweight, Campion College's Tashauna Grannum.

However, to the surprise of the Americans, Jamaica's coach, Jason McKay, sent out the smaller Danielle Chang to face Kiabeck.

Chang, a karate fighter with far less experience in ITF sparring, gave a spirited display in a hot exchange with the US lightweight champ, fighting on the inside to neutralise her rival's techniques.

It was a close encounter, with the judges unable to split both fighters, resulting in a draw, which kept the USA in the match.

Grannum came out for the deciding match against Ha Thang, who came out hammering the Jamaican with punches. However, Grannum soon found her range with kicks, which carry more points than punches.

Narrow decision

The judges rewarded the Jamaican with a narrow decision, two declaring the match a draw and the other two a win for Grannum.

Coach McKay was elated with the Lady Knights' victory, dismissing prematch comments about the Jamaicans being out for the expe-rience against the highly rated United States team.

"I really think, in a three-team format, there are few microweights in the Pan Am region who can beat Cunningham. Once she can give us a start, it's just for other people to hang on," he said.

"It was a great performance from the girls again and also the Americans, on whom you could see the touch of class of their coach, Alvin Bernard, a Jamaican who is a highly respected coach in ITF martial arts, and also a former member of Jamaica's coaching staff to the world champs."

Cunningham was over the moon, especially after turning the tables on Ikromova.

"I must say it's a great feeling. I normally go out last and when I heard I was first out, I was like, 'Oh, my god', but it was a wonderful feeling.

"It's a feeling we can't explain, we didn't know who we were fighting up to days before. The girls are really happy for the victory," Cunningham added.