Teenage karateka off to ‘worlds’

Last year Pollard returned with a bagful of medals at the last Martial Arts Oriental Championship in the Under-17 Division in Columbus, Ohio and is hopeful of repeating the performance that earned him international recognition. He will again contest the Kata but will be expected to face tougher competition from all over the world this time around.

The 16-year-old had been hard at practice under coach Christopher Francis and his team at the Trinidad and Tobago Black Hawks Academy.

The Academy has sent representatives to numerous karate and martial arts tournament worldwide and their students have been the recipients of medals and trophies in the past.

Coosal’s Construction Limited is been the sponsor of Pollard’s airline ticket for the championship.

Pollard was forced to opt out of the World Karate Union in June because he could not find a sponsor.

His sponsorship came through the Acono Village Dynamic Action Committee of which Amral Khan is chairman.