Ja’s big three dominate at US Open Karate
JAMAICA’S big three, the combined martial arts team of Olympian Kenneth Edwards, Richard Stone, and Akino Lindsay, yesterday opened the island’s medal count with gold in the open-weight three-man team fight before returning to sweep the top three black belt weight divisions at the International Sports Karate Association’s United States Open in Orlando, Florida.
Competing among thousands of international martial artists, Jamaica ended yesterday’s continuous sparring with six gold, two silver, and three bronze medals, heading into today’s action, which will feature points and clash sparring.
Calabar High School’s Tyrique Tai-Loy of Zendo Karate won gold in the 14-15 junior black belt category, whereas Romario Martin battled exhaustion to win the 18-35 intermediate division on his first trip to the US Open.
Nicholai Reid and Rasean Martin each won silver in 1835, 169lb and under and 200lb+ black belt divisions, respectively. Calabar’s Trevor Webb Jr won bronze in 18-35, 169lb and under.
St George’s College’s Duncan Smith won bronze in the 16-17 junior black belt category. Calabar’s Lamari Johnson and Britney Mitchell of Pembroke Hall High captured bronze medals in the 16-17 beginner and intermediate divisions, respectively.
Edwards, Stone, and Lindsay continued their domination of the big-men category at the US Open, dominating their divisions, the most watched at the event.
Edwards, fighting at his heaviest ever, over 200lb, beat fellow Jamaican Rasean Martin of Jamaica Taekwondo to mine gold in the 18-35 division. Stone and Lindsay were equally impressive in seeing off their challengers in the 170-184lb and 185-199lb divisions, respectively.