Wanliss wins second medal for Jamaica

Ainsley Walters, Sunday Gleaner Writer

HOURS after Sheckema Cunningham made history by winning Jamaica's first-ever sparring medal at the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) world championships in Wellington, New Zealand, Montego Bay's Alrick Wanliss rewrote the history books on Wednesday.

Wanliss, Jamaica's most inter-nationally decorated martial artist, added another bronze medal to the country's tally at the tough champion-ships where the country had never medalled in sparring in 24 years.

Competing at his third world championship, Wanliss shared the bronze in microweight sparring with Russia's Alexander Leonov, adding to his many other achievements on the ITF world stage.

The Montego Bay native has won gold at the ITF World Cup and at the International Sports Karate Association US Open, the world's biggest martial arts open.

In 2007, Wanliss was considered a hot favourite but was knocked out in the first round. In 2009, he advanced to the quarter-final but lost to Mark Trotter of New Zealand.

Defeated by old foe

After Wanliss got past Pablo Pascuzzo of Switzerland in the quarter-finals, he faced old foe Trotter in the semis.

Ironically, it was Trotter, who Wanliss has beaten since his 2009 loss, who denied the Jamaican a silver medal, edging him in a close semi-final match. Luiz Quintas of Brazil won the gold medal.

However, Wanliss said he wasn't worried about the colour of his medal.

"I am more concerned that Jamaica not only broke the spell and medalled, but got two medals at the championships," he said.

Coach Claude Chin was grateful for the bronze but said Wanliss deserved gold "because he's just that good".

The bronze medals earned by Cunningham and Wanliss at the ITF world championships have propelled Jamaican martial arts to a new level, putting them among the country's marquee sportsmen and women.

Both are members of the male and female combined martial arts team. The male team has won 39 successive matches against the best teams in the world. The female team has had three consecutive international victories.