Combined team for NY Open

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

JAMAICA's combined martial arts team embarks on its fourth fixture of the year - its third International Taekwondo Federation tournament - the New York Open, set for September 25.

Jamaica's squad to the post-season tournament includes captain Jason McKay, Nicholas Dussard, former Calabar High standout Oshane Murray, who is now at Excelsior Community College, and invitee of the year, Adrian King.

Whereas Dussard will be using the tournament as an attempt to move ahead of teammate Kenneth Edwards in his bid to win the coveted Fighter of the Year award and cash prize of $130,000, McKay and King will battling for points to stave off a teenaged trio also vying for spots to make next year's team.

Shamar Morgan, Adrian Moore and Ackeem Lawrence, all participants in Jamaica Taekwondo's high-school programme, have put many long-standing combined team members' back to the wall by amassing points at the US Open and on the local circuit.

King, who earned nine valuable points by being a member of the winning three-man team at the US Open in July, is anxious to maintain his position ahead of Morgan, Moore and Lawrence.

McKay has so far amassed 110 points from two showings on the international circuit. He is least likely to be in danger from the emerging youngsters, but will have to be careful with two tournaments left on the local calendar.

A 10-year veteran of the New York Open, McKay said he is not worried about earning points. He is concentrating on winning gold in the Big Apple.

"I am not really thinking about points," he said. "I am of the opinion I have enough to hold my spot in the top 10. I am more focusing on trying to finally win this event. It's a tournament where I have reached the final four times in 10 years, winning six bronze medals, yet never been able to leave in the number-one spot."

Favourite

Meanwhile, Dussard will start as favourite in the lightweight division in the absence of world champion Julio Carlos of the United States, who was recently injured in a domestic accident.

Teenager Murray, at 18, is fast becoming a mainline fighter for the combined team. However, his experience at the adult level is limited and he will have to be at his best.

After New York, the combined team could tackle either Venezuela or the Philippines. The offers are still being mulled.

"This is our second-to-last fixture of the year," said McKay. "It's been a long season for some of the guys. We have the Philippines and Venezuela to choose from to end the seaon. It will depend on who makes the better offer.

"They are both good tournaments to fight in and we would like to extend our unbeaten record in team events to 40 to go in hand with Jamaica's 50th Independence celebrations," McKay added.