Terry heaps praise on medal winners

MARTIAL ARTS: STUDENTS from Oldham’s DEMAA (Domana Elica Martial Arts Academy) won dozens of medals for Great Britain in the World Games in Cardiff.

After battling it out with clubs from across the globe over three days, the youngsters delighted trainer Dave Terry with their endeavours.

They earned the right to compete at the prestigious event — martial art’s answer to the Olympics — after coming through a rigorous trial process earlier in the year.

Terry said: “As an instructor and coach, I have taught some of these students from a very early age.

“I and am privileged to be able to watch them mature into young adults and see team DEMAA as part of the Great Britain squad go from strength-to-strength.

“I am very proud of each and every student and the support network that they each have behind them.”

Jawad Khan (nine), nicknamed ‘Smiler’, is one of the smallest and youngest members of the squad but that didn’t get in his way — he received a grappling bronze.

Amy Sutcliffe (14) followed suit despite taking on older and more experienced rivals.

On his Great Britain debut, 14-year-old Thomas Lane bagged bronze in kick-jutsu and bronze in grappling.

Bobby Terry (eight) earned silver for his grappling prowess, while sister Anabel (14) got silver in grappling and gold in kick jutsu at the expense of a 17-year-old opponent.

Two quality throws in a penultimate deciding round sealed the memorable victory.

Jonathan Winney (15) joined forces with team-mates Dominic Terry (12) and 14-year-old Jake Cheetham and they clinched gold in self defence.

Dominic also lost by just one point against a boy two years his senior in the kickboxing category.

William Sutcliffe (12) took gold in kick jutsu and grappling, Connor Quinlan (13) celebrated his debut with silver in grappling and 20-year-old Damian Hirons mustered gold in submission grappling and bronze for his full contact kickboxing performance.

Lucy Haslam (10) was a gold winner in grappling before claiming bronze in kata forms, and Shabaad Siddique, a year older than Lucy, got gold in grappling and kick jutsu.

Dale Mathie (15) got his hands on gold in light continuous kickboxing and silver in semi-contact points kickboxing.

Terry added: “It is to great credit to the squad members and their supporting parents and families at the event that the competitors’ patience and behaviour was impeccable.”