Alex feels Brad all over after a medal success
Taekwondo star shines on England debut
TAEKWONDO prospect Alexander Bradwell got a real kick out of his first appearance for England – by securing a place on the podium, writes TONY HODGSON.
The 14-year-old – a member of the Newcastle-based Hwa-Rang School of Taekwondo – represented his country at the European Junior Championships in Sarajevo.
The second dan black belt, who took up the sport at the age of four, competed in the sparring and patterns events in Bosnia.
He won bronze in the patterns and in sparrings reached the second round before losing his fight.
Bradwell’s coach at Hwa Rang Mariusz Biziewski said: “This is an amazing achievement for a 14-yearold boy representing his country for the first time.
“When Alexander turned 14 in May he decided to go for the national team selection as he had reached the minimum age requirement.
“It was a tough selection process but despite the injury he was suffering at the time he really went for it and was selected.
“His self-motivation and tenacity has allowed him to achieve a very high level in taekwondo – not only because of formal training but also because of his self-discipline to work for it.
“Alex is a boy who does not settle for what he has but instead constantly, consistently strives for more. He has this unquenchable thirst to constantly improve himself.
“He also the ability to encourage those around him and push them to achieve more.”
Bradwell trains up to five times a week at Hwa-Rang and became a second dan black belt in March.
Over the past six years he has enjoyed great success, including claiming regional, English, Scottish, Irish and British titles.
This year he also started to participate in prestigious international events – claiming two gold medals in the Dutch Open and two silver medals in the Holland Cup.
Bradwell hopes to represent England again in the 2020 European Championships in Slovakia.
He also plans to participate in the 2020 Dutch Open, Holland Cup and the World Cup in Slovenia.