Good Start For New Zealand At World Champs

A total of 12 medals on day one of the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Inzell, Germany as the Kiwi team kept itself in with the leading nations.

Wellington’s Wesley Filiki won his third consecutive individual males senior power breaking title ahead of a Finn and competitors from Russia and Paraguay. Filiki from the Pil Sung Taekwon-Do Club in Petone won his previous gold medals at world champs in Ireland and Italy.

It was also a big day for Courtney Weir from Auckland who took away gold in the senior women’s 1st Dan patterns, while Angel McCreedy and Phillipa Henry won silver and bronze respectively in the women’s 2nd Dan patterns. All three combined as part of a team to win in the senior women’s team pattern along with, Brenda Contti and Layne George.

The other gold medal winner was Carter Hall from Counties Manukau in the junior boys 1st Dan patterns.

Silver medals were won by Tamara Ruaporo (Wellington) in the junior girls 2nd Dan patterns and Kyla Walton in the senior women’s power who finished behind an American competitor and ahead of a Romanian.

Other bronze winners were Taine and Damon Williams in the 1st and 2nd Dan men’s patterns respectively as well as Dane Canton in the 4th-6th Dan senior men’s patters. The senior men’s patters team of Matt Bowden, Alex Petrovich, Taine Williams Vinu Vijay and Calum Wodill were bronze medallists.

The tournament runs until April 29th, New Zealand finished second to hosts Ireland two years ago at the previous world championships.