By Jessica Micallef
Gisborne Taekwondo students are taking their martial arts talents to the Gold Coast.
Noah, Harrison, Qays, Sophie, Troy and Balian will compete at the 2019 Australian Taekwondo National Championships on the Gold Coast next month after winning selection at Victorian Taekwondo Selection Championships in July.
Gisborne Taekwondo owner and head instructor Glyn Thomas says the selection championships are Victoria’s biggest taekwondo competition.
“It was their first major competition that they had been in,” he said. “They’ve been in little ones but nothing as big as this. Where they are going now, it will be even bigger. There’s anywhere up to 1000 students from all around Australia.”
During the selection championships, brothers Noah, 8, and Harrison, 12, won a combined two gold and four silver medals and one bronze.
Qays, 8, came away with two gold medals, Sophie, 12, won a gold medal and Troy placed first in the senior division, winning a gold medal.
“Balian didn’t place but because he’s a black belt, he can still enter the championships,” Mr Thomas said.
Mr Thomas said he was proud of his students for reaching an elite national competition level.
“It’s a fantastic job for these young students to be able to go and represent not only their club, but Victoria,” he said.
The national championships will be held at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast from September 6-8.
