Four British Open titles for Tigerz gym youngsters
JUNIORS from Tigerz gym in Leicester won four titles in Thai boxing and K1 kickboxing at the AFSO British open championships in Solihull.
Six-year-old young tiger Adam Mokhfi won a fantastic back and forth encounter against another tiny warrior, Kade, from the Weoley Castle Muay Thai gym in Birmingham.
Both weighing in at 19kg, they were the youngest and smallest competitors on the day and both have a bright future, but it was Adam who came home with the British open K1 belt.
Khyra Takhrar, 12, competed in the plus 55kg novice Thai boxing category and faced Leah Gallen from the Twin Tigers gym based in Devon.
This was a close encounter with both girls trading evenly throughout but Khyra’s determination gave her the edge and she won a split decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Esa Khan, 17, fought in the minus 62kg K1 category.
He had recently won two open tournaments and was in fine form to continue his challenge for another title.
Esa faced Domink Bularz from
Manchester’s Black Tiger Martial Arts academy whom he beat at a previous open.
Fast hands, power low kicks and telling knees saw him going for the stoppage after he gave his opponent an eight-count in the
second round, but the fight went the distance and Esa won by unanimous decision.
Yahya Bunglawala, 16, fought in the K1 kickboxing minus 65kg category.
His opponent, George Palmer from Stoke combat academy, was a tough fighter from a boxing and MMA background.
After a hard first round, Yahya was instructed by his coach to use pressure tactics and knees close up to disrupt George’s rhythm.
The game plan worked a treat as Yahya’s relentless pressure and damaging knee attacks saw George receiving two eight-counts and the fight was won by stoppage.
Five other youngsters, Shua Saumtally, Hud Mokhfi, Nuh Mokhfi, Aimane Laurent and Yasser Essasi, also competed and came back with silver medals, some narrowly losing split decisions in the final.
Coach Muz Khan said: “Another fantastic day for the Tigerz, we won another four titles and were close to bagging a few more.
“Really happy with our team and great to see some new young fighters coming through.”
Tigerz gym is now based in East Park Road in Spinney Hills.