Another gold for Cunningham at Kickboxing World Championships
IN FORM Sheckema Cunningham added another first to her list of impressive martial arts accomplishments on Saturday, completing a sweep of the microweight sparring division at the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) Amateur Members Association World Championships in Athens, Greece.
The petite fighter won her second gold of the event, points sparring, beating Laura Keegan of England, and adding to the continuous sparring crown she had won on last Thursday’s second day of the May 31-June 4 event.Cunningham, 31, has been in tremendous form since returning from injury to win double gold at another ISKA-sanctioned event, last year’s US Open in Orlando, Florida.Leading up to the ISKA Amateur Members Association World Championships, Cunningham had won back-to-back World Taekwondo Federation-style bouts, fighting in New York.“She is certainly at the top of her game, the best I have seen her in years; and I only hope she stays healthy to defend her titles next year when we host the ISKA Amateur Members Association World Championships in Montego Bay, Jamaica,” said her coach, Jason McKay.“I didn’t know I could have done it but, with the preparation I got from my coach, anything was possible,” said Cunningham.Jamaica’s tally at the tournament stands at six medals — four gold and two silver. Akino Lindsay won continuous sparring gold on Wednesday’s opening day, and Subrina Richards successfully defended her middleweight points sparring title for the second-straight year, completing a hat-trick of victories in the division.On Sunday’s final day, Lindsay and Ackeem Lawrence closed the tournament with silver medals in points sparring.McKay, head of ISKA Jamaica and organiser of next year’s World Championships, said the medals won by Jamaica will go a far way in promoting not only the tournament, but also the island’s brand.“Once again, Jamaicans have proven that they can succeed anywhere, anytime, and anyhow. Come next year, we’re gonna be putting on a show in Montego Bay with three defending champions, one a double gold medallist,” he said.
