World champ Tejay sets sights on Olympics

KICKBOXING CATHERINE SMYTH KICKBOXER and instructor Tejay Bacon is a world champion again and now hopes to represent his country at Olympic level.

Tejay, 15, attends Fearns Community Sports College, Stacksteads, and has been kickboxing at Alf’s Blackbelt Academy since he was three.

He said: “The championship was held in Dublin and I won gold in the -45kg semi-contact, silver in -45kg light contact and bronze in the 13-14 open weight team points competition.

“This is the ninth world championship I have attended and in most of them I have come away with a gold medal.

“As well as training, I also instruct the younger ones aged between four and 13 and I attend Alf’s every day for about eight hours in a week.”

To earn the gold in the -45kg semi-contact he took on five challengers and although he said the heats were easy, the final was tough.

It was a split decision that led to him winning silver in the light contact, after another four bouts and he was part of a three-man team from the England squad when he was awarded bronze.

His sister Shannon, now 18, is also a former Fearns pupil and now competes in the adults section. She also won Gold, Silver and Bronze.

“I like the sport because it gives me something to do instead of being at home on an XBox,” said Tejay. “I would like to go to the Olympics and hope that one day it will become an Olympic sport.” ●● Tejay Bacon with his gold, silver and bronze medals from the World Karate and Kickboxing Commission championships