AKINO Lindsay, Jamaica’s most decorated martial artist, has heaped praises on the small contingent of nine fighters, who returned with 13 medals, five gold included, from the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) United States Open in Orlando, Florida, at the weekend.

Lindsay, who holds a US Open record of winning four gold medals at a single championship, 2018, selflessly forwent his heavyweight clash-sparring title bout at the Coronado Resort to coach up-and-coming fighters, who made the 31-year-old proud.

“Outside of Adrian Moore, who won gold in his ITF taekwondo bout on Friday’s Night of Victory, coached by Master Claude Chin, Delano Francis and I shared coaching duties for the younger fighters,” Lindsay explained.

“That caused me to give up my spot in the clash-sparring final but I have won many medals and decided to instead help the younger fighters, who won three gold, four silver and five bronze, a small party of eight fighters, five juniors and three seniors, including two black belts and a brown belt,” Lindsay noted.

Trey Pennant, 17, of Jamaica College and the Jamaica Taekwondo Association, led the way with gold in clash and continuous sparring.

Akhaylah Gilzene, 15, St Andrew High School for Girls and Future Leaders Eagle Karate, won gold and silver in clash and continuous sparring, respectively.

Arianna Brown won silver and bronze in clash and continuous, respectively. Manuel Rosales, of Jamaica College and Jamaica Taekwon-do Association, also won silver and bronze in clash and continuous sparring.

Lamar Henry, of Jamaica College and Jamaica Taekwon-do Association, won a bronze in clash sparring, rounding off the juniors’ tally.

Sadeki Harris, 19, of Shai-Tai Kickboxing, won silver and bronze in clash and continuous sparring, respectively, whereas Shervia Perkins, 19, of First Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan, won bronze in continuous sparring.

Lindsay lamented visa woes, which drastically reduced the number of fighters, who traditionally travel to the United States Open, returning with more trophies than arms can carry.

“Typically, we would have had 20-odd fighters. We went leaner with the hopes of winning more gold. They did their best, really good efforts. They fought as best as they could. They maximised on training, went out and delivered.

“I am very proud of them. I could not have asked for a better showing,” said Lindsay, adding that next year’s local qualifier for the US Open will be held sooner to facilitate earlier interview dates at the United States Embassy.

“This year’s qualifying tournament was a little too late, March, we will amend next year, keep that competition a little earlier in the year, enough time for visas to be processed,” Lindsay pointed out, assuring qualifiers from this year, who didn’t make the trip that they will be automatic entries next year.

“Those who won at the fight-off in March but didn’t make it to Orlando, they are automatic for next year. It was no fault of their own. Expect a bigger cast and more medals next year,” Lindsay assured.