Seven Team Warrior students selected for the England World Championships squad

Seven Team Warrior students have made it into the England squad for the ITF World Championships 2017, which are taking place in Dublin this October.

Five of our taekwondo athletes who train at the De Silva Taekwondo Academy had already been selected for the team at the first set of trials, but seven more competitors had the opportunity to stake their claim to represent England at the National Trial in Stratford Upon Avon on July 16.

Giada Nazarri, Jaymie Phow, ‘Angry’ Courtney Smith, Alina Tiits, Gursimran Shinger, Janan Punitharajah and Thamilini Punitharajah all competed, hoping to join the likes of Hannah ‘Hype’ Whittaker, Jennifer Pena, Shane ‘Loyal’ O’Rourke, Ben Halpin and Calvin Thomas in Dublin.

Giada and Alini performed two patterns, while the rest of the squad fought in three-minute sparring matches against athletes in their own category or one weight above or below. While all of our students performed to a very high level, it was Alina Tiits and Courtney Smith who made it into the squad – Alina for for first degree patterns and Courtney in -62kg sparring.

They will be part of a squad which has experienced World Championship success in the past. Hannah ‘Hype’ Whittaker was the 2015 ITF World Vice Champion for -68kg sparring and she also won a bronze in the team sparring competition alongside Jennifer Pena. Jennifer was also ITF World Vice Champion for -50kg in the same year, while Shane ‘Loyal’ O’Rourke was the 2015 ITF World Vice Champion in -85 sparring.

ITF England coach and De Silva Taekwondo founder Johann De Silva said: “Even though two of our seven students at the National Trials made it to Dublin, they all performed fantastically well. I’m proud to be taking seven Team Warrior students to the finals.”

You can train alongside England taekwondo athletes at the De Silva Taekwondo academies in Wembley, Ruislip and Ealing. Click here to book your free trial lesson.