Jamaica off to flying start at ISKA World Champs

JAMAICA’s MCKAY Security combined martial arts have, so far, netted four of five possible gold medals after day one of the International Sports Kickboxing Association’s Amateur Members Association (AMA) World Championships in Vienna, Austria.

ISKA AMA world-record holder Akino Lindsay and Richard Stone, his closest pursuer in most gold medals won in tatami events, eight and seven gold, respectively, successfully defended their continuous-sparring titles to stay on course for consecutive double gold after Munich 2023.

Lindsay fought as a super heavyweight whereas Stone, in his bid to dethrone countryman Lindsay, won his continuous-sparring gold among heavyweights.

Meanwhile, Nicholai Reid and Ackeem Lawrence also picked up continuous-sparring gold in middleweight and lightweight divisions, respectively, keeping Jamaica on target for what manager and coach Jason McKay had predicted as a possible eight-gold haul from the four-man team.

Microweight Sharick Bowen won bronze on his first combined-team assignment at the ISKA World Championships, losing to Danylo Karabutov of the Ukraine, going down 16-20 in a closely fought semi-final.

Stone, the first fighter to win back-to-back Night of Champions International Taekwondo Federation World Championship titles at the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) United States Open, defeated England’s Henry Pollock 15-0 in his continuous-sparring final.

Lindsay beat Calum Timmins of England 17-8 to maintain his all-time one-gold lead ahead of Stone.

Reid stopped Vladyslav Krykhtin of the Ukraine 18-17 in a nail-biter.

McKay, who is also ISKA Jamaica president, said he was elated with the team’s performance and was looking forward to points sparring on the second day.