Sport

Mayhem in Madrid - Combined Martial Arts team disqualified

Morocco's Zrouri Abdelkader (left) and Italy's Basile Leonardo fight during their over-84 kg semifinal match at the World Taekwondo Championships, in Madrid, recently. Abdelkader defeated Leonardo. - Reuters

JAMAICA'S COMBINED MARTIAL Arts team, travelling as the 'Busta Fighters', returned home on Monday from a two-week European tour, just failing to pull off a big upset over Spain's national taekwondo team in Madrid two Sundays ago.

Leading on points up to fight number three, the Combined team's Kenneth Edwards was penalised for excessive contact, resulting in the disqualification of the team.

The Jamaicans lodged a protest, which was upheld a day later, and a rematch has since been scheduled for this summer.

Ridiculous decision

Captain Jason McKay said the Combined team was on its way to demolishing the Spaniards and blamed the disqualification on an official wanting to save face for his country.

"We were way ahead on points when we were disqualified," he said. "It was a desperate attempt by a Spanish referee to avoid embarrassment. We protested and a rematch has been ordered.

"Had Edwards not been disqualified, we would have walked away with a historic win," a bitter McKay added.

"It was one of the most unfair and ridiculous decisions I've ever seen and was nothing but an attempt to avoid what would have been an embarrassing result for the Spanish team at home."

With a rematch ordered by the head table, the Combined Team has retained its unbeaten status of seven consecutive wins. The team's next assignment will be against the British National Taekwondo team in London on July 19 after which they'll travel to Spain for the rematch.

McKay said the team will be fighting extensively in Europe this year in countries where its members can qualify for the Olympics by way of World Championships.

Qualifying opportunity

"This particular tour, sponsored by Jamaica Beverages, also provided an opportunity for Edwards and Bruce McFarlane to take part in the World Taekwondo Federation's World Championships, which were also held in Madrid.

"In July, McFarlane will defend his World Seido Karate title in Britain and Italy. There'll also be the International Taekwondo Federation World Championship in Germany.

Both Edwards and McFarlane were beaten in the second round of their qualifying attempts in Madrid.

Edwards, in his first shot in a World Championship tournament, gave a credible performance against his Austrian opponent in the welterweight division on Friday.

The tournament attracted 1200 athletes from 140 countries.

"They were both debutants in Olympic foot fighting," McKay noted. "They and other members of the team are attempting to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. It is anticipated that the full squad's next attempt at qualification will be the CAC Games in Colombia next year. By that route, we hope to qualify for the IOC Pan Am Games, from which the top three go to the Olympic games.