Molloy leads the gold-rush for local kick-boxers in Portugal

Martial arts - World Kick-Boxing Championships

There was once again another superb showing by local kickboxers at the WKC World Championships in Portugal. Last year the Peterborough BCKA (British Chinese KickBoxing Association) club came back from Portugal with 19 medals - four of which were gold.

This year they did even better at the sport’s showpiece event at the Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort and Spa in Albuferia.

Four fighters were in action and between them they won a magnificent 21 medals including a staggering 15 golds.

Chief i nstructor Andy Whitwell was overwhelmed by the achievements of his students.

“It’s unbelievable. We absolutely smashed it. To win 15 world titles competing against 15 other nations is a remarkable achievement,” he said.

“I was delighted to have four of my fighters represent England at the championships and for them to all return as world champions makes me so proud.

“But it’s nothing more than they deserve. They all trained so hard for the event, all made scarfices and were 100% focused.”

Freya Molloy, the reigning Junior Sportswoman of the Year in the Peterborough Telegraph Sports Awards, led the gold rush with a superb six world titles, and Jaden Harris claimed a fabulous five golds.

Leon Gold and Chelsea Munday completed the glittering array with two gold medals each.

The other countries competing were the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Germany, Egypt, Canary Islands, Bosnia Herzegovina, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Pakistan and France.

The Peterborough BCKA fighters who finished on top of the world in Portugal. From the left are, Chelsea Munday, Leon Gold, Simon Munday (WKC qualified international referee), Freya Molloy and Jaden Harris.