Taekwondo: Young fighters kicking new goals

Taekwondo fighters off to the Junior Worlds in Taiwan, (from left) Jamie Kaiwite, Taylor Price and Sam Jacobs, with Master Kesi O'Neill. Photo/John Borren

Succession planning is alive and well in New Zealand taekwondo.

From his new base on Newton Rd, national coach Master Kesi O'Neill is plotting the long path towards medals, funding and a groundswell of support.

Training premises at both ends of town, three young fighters in the New Zealand Youth team and a training centre crammed with cadets, youths and seniors all kicking around together, means the initial signs are positive.

The three local prospects for the upcoming junior world champs and Youth Olympic qualifiers - under-17 hope Sam Jacobs, 15-year-old Jamie Kaiwite and Taylor Price - all benefited immensely from the recent inter-squad sparring held at the Western Bay headquarters in Greerton.

With international opponents having much greater access to international competition in the lead-up, it was pivotal the fighters were subjected to the brutal sessions.

"It's pretty tough, but it's what they needed," Master Kesi said.

"The board has sent a report saying they are pleased with what happened there.

"It should have happened a long time ago ... now the seniors are asking when they can have theirs."

Kesi rated Jacobs as the most likely of the three Tauranga fighters to claim a medal, but he, too, will have his work cut out in the under-78kg division against a legion of lean, long fighters.

"They are like birds with long beaks that you can't get near.

"A lot of the fighters from overseas look more like nerds, but when you get in the ring it's another kettle of fish. Honestly, I've seen them.

"They come with their glasses - no offence - then next minute a friend will tell me to watch the same boy. Then it's like, bang bang.

"It's like they have hands on their feet. And the look on the face has changed - it looks like they want to kill you. They have the mentality they want to win. If they get a medal they can get a lot of money."

Kesi knows a medal from any of the New Zealand contingent could make the world of difference for the sport.

"The way I see it in Oceania there are 20-odd countries. We are on the ground level. We have to travel far for good training.

"If we can get someone to place at a world champs we have done our job properly. The sports organisation would then look at it more closely.

"The funding is quite hard. Someone has to break it through.

"It's about going out there and saying I'm from New Zealand and this is what I can do."