FIRE TO GOLD! World Cup Selections Comp

• GOLD: Tina Morgan
• SILVER: Steph NG
• BRONZE: Laura Bartels
• BRONZE: Eve Embers

Ronnie Branca (Massuer) and I after my fights. Morning Training Squad - 6/10 GOLD

The event all started at weigh in when I decided to weigh in with my jeans, jacket and shoes. 66.60kg was the reading. At first I thought nothing of it, after all its just another number on the scales that says I'm under the stipulated division and free to participate. But after a few conscious thoughts I went back to the Weigh In Director to ask for a re-weigh. Why you may ask? Well 666 is not known to be such a lucky number! Anyway --- his fits of laughter at my idea was enough of a "no" response to send me home to prepare for my devilish day of competition.

Due to the restricted number of athletes in my division I was put straight into the round robin. Here the top four fighters compete against each other once and the person who wins the most matches is chosen for the World Cup Team.

Shown below are my fight results for the day: (Welter: 61-68kgs)

1 = Steph Ng: Victoria
Score: Tina 8 – Steph 1

2 = Eve Embers: Victoria
Score: Tina 7– Eve 0

3 = Laura Bartels: Western Australia
Score: Tina 11 – Laura 4

Each fight I won with the new 7 point rule. This rule states that if the score difference becomes 7 points the match is finished regardless of which round you are in. Whilst I got head kicks in other matches, my 3rd match against fellow West Aussie, Laura, was the most exciting for me because I can still see the instant replay in my mind of my foot connecting with her head guard producing a knockdown (3 point score as she hit the floor).

666 might be associated with the devil and regarded as an unlucky number but in this instance it was probably more of an "omen"/ statement to others to watch out for me...hehehe.. Its a reminder to everyone, listen to your mum when she says "Don't play with fire"...because you always know your going to get burnt.....

Speaking of mums, the page I read from my mum's little book on success she gave me for comp said: "Become the kind of person who brightens a room just by entering it." I didn't know how to interpret this at first, honestly I initially thought it meant to be the happiness of the room, but now I see I could have infact brightend the room with my raging fire that ooooozzzzzed from within:) hahaha.....I can be so evil:)

Anyways, enough of my rationalizing:) ....To finish up, I practiced a few things I have been working on in training but focused on achieving the end result and that was making the World Cup Team. Having successfully achieved that goal I can now prepare for other events such as the China Open in August. Our female team will be competing in the World Cup at Thailand this September.

Athletes who made the team:

Male

• Fin: Terrence Jennings (NSW)
• Bantam: Safwan Kahlil (NSW)
• Light: Burak Hasan (VIC)
• Welter: Mahir Unalan (VIC)
• Heavy: Jake Ryan (VIC)

Female

• Fin: Lisa Carneli (VIC)
• Bantam: Caroline Marton (VIC)
• Light: Kristy Sparre (VIC)
• Welter: Tina Morgan (WA)
• Heavy: Katrina Iacobucci (VIC)

Ruby Slippers Needed

I have so many shoes but I don't own a pair of these

If only seeing your family was as easy as clicking your heels together three times!

Different Sports - Different Dreams - One Attitude

Dream Believe Achieve......

Training was quite good the last week. Morning sessions with Tony Hewitt are killing us but improving our mental strength! I am not much of a runner.....but being made to run ...and run...and sprint run is helping me alot. I can already feel my legs toning for the upcoming comp.

Three weeks to go now and counting down!

SILVER FOR MY MAN!

BAHRI WON SILVER AT THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!

He had a total of five fights, overcoming:

1) Russian = Evgeny Mikushin (4-2)
2) Bosnian = Zarko Mikulic (4-0) Zarko is also an Australian Taekwondo Athlete
3) Netherlands = Patrick Stevens (5-1)
4) Slovenia = Tomaz Zakrajzek (6-2)

Unfortunately he lost the final to Spain's Jon Garcia in a sudden death situation (2-2). None the less silver is an amazing achievement and I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR HIM! Thank God - alhumdulliah.

Sadly his sister was not able to produce the same results and retain her championship title. Azize went down in the quarter finals (also in a sudden death situation) to the eventual bronze medallist from Sweden, Lie Kylborne. Since this is also my WTF division I have taken note of the winners. The results are as follows:

Senior female -63kgs

1 = Spain, Muriel Bujalance
2 = Germany, Helena Fromm
3 = Ukraine, Olga Cherkun
3 = Sweden, Lie Kylborne

ALSO:
Senior female -67KGS

1 = Turkey, Sibel Guler
2 = France, Gwladys Epangue
3 = Sweden, Carolin Persson
3 = Norway, Nina Solheim

Anyways its back to the track for us today!!!!! Rain hail or shine....!

WORLD CUP SELECTIONS (-68KGS)

Its been about a month since I last wrote, but to tell you the truth not much has happened other than : training, studying, waking up early for morning sessions and...da da da....I havent eaten a single chip in ONE WHOLE MONTH!!! I have made a promise with someone special (my mum) not to have another chip for the rest of the year.....and i plan to keep it. The lack of fats clogging my arteries should enhance my performance...well so they say:):):)...So now thats no chips, no coke....so what can be next...?

I'm still in the preparatory stage for the World Cup Selections. They are to be held on the 24th June in Melbourne. There will be new divisions in place for this selection, and my division will now range from 61kgs to 68kgs. Having finished a load of assignments my mind feels fresh and ready to give it my all!

4 Weeks to goooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUICK NOTE: My boyfriend and his sister fight this weekend in the European Champs!!! So Im wishing both of them the very best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have worked extremely hard for this and deserve success. Soooooooooo here's a cheer for TURKIYE!

Results + Korea

Korea retains its number one position in the Asian Region. All results, team rankings, draws and follow up of the comp can be found at World Taekwondo Federation website and or Thailand Taekwondo Fed sites below:

THAILAND FULL RESULTS/DRAWS

WTF RESULTS + FOLLOW UP

Whilst we started the competition strong, it was a sad ending to such a sweet start. For myself I feel like I still have alot of work I need to do, and whilst I would love to reflect on this comp with you, I will not at the present time for personal reasons.

We are in Korea at the moment in a training camp. So far we have sparred at the NationAl Korean University, Kyung Hee Uni and Yongin Uni. These are the three top taekwondo universities in Korea in which most of their national team athletes come from. I haver been kicked in the head ....too many times to count, but have also stood my ground and given a few back also. This is my first period of training in lead up to World Cup selections in June - and god knows I need it.

Australia wins Silver DAY 1: Adam Corrigan

The first day of competition was held yesterday and Adam Corrigan won Australia a silver medal. Adam overcame Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Vietnam to progress to the final, however, fell short against the eventual winner from Kazakhstan. Adam is pictured below, along with (from left) Taeho Uhm, Mr Kwak (Taekwondo Australia President), Daniel Trenton, Ridvan Manav and Ronnie Branca.

The only other Aussie to compete yesterday was Katrina Iacobbucci. It is unfortunate for her that she could not progress to the medal standings having lost a tough match against China first fight by a mere 2 points. Katrina is pictured right of myself during the opening ceremony.

Day 3 to come