Medal joy for father and son taekwondo duo
A FATHER and son Taekwondo duo have returned from the World Championships in South Korea with an impressive haul of seven medals.
David Monaghan (17), from Bearsden, won a silver for his sparring technique in the junior team event representing Scotland, who just lost out to World champions Argentina.
Competing with Connor Rankin and Grant Mitchell, David and Grant came through their first fight but lost out in a close match in round two. Grant won through to the final but was beaten by an Argentinian competitor.
However, the former Bearsden Academy pupil won bronze medals for his special technique jumping high kicks, patterns and breaking a board.
And in the individual category, the black belt expert claimed a final bronze for his kicking technique.
His dad John (54), a second dan black belt, won two bronze medals in the individual sparring and patterns section.
Commenting after the championship, John, a care worker for Glasgow City Council, said: "We are both absolutely over the moon. I didn't expect to win any medals.
"David was up against some very tough competition, especially those from Argentina, who are the current World Champions.
"To travel half way across the world and compete at such a high level takes a lot of commitment."
John did admit, however, that this would probably be his last big competition.
He added: "I was up against a 39-year-old guy in the sparring and, although I held my own, It was tough. When you are 54 the knocks take a bit longer to fix."
The competition took place in the Olympic Arena over five days last month in the Cheong Ju region of South Korea.
A total of 50 countries were represented at the event and with over 700 competitors winning medals was not going to be easy.
John said the championships were an amazing experience and wished to thank the students from the five clubs he runs in Bearsden, Milngavie, Balfron, Scotstoun and Drumchapel for all their help in raising the money needed to fund the trip.
He said: "Without the help of the students it would have been impossible to meet all the costs. I just want to say a big thank you to them."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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