14/4/2008Double Gold Win For Teenage Star
A TEENAGER from Coatbridge has become a double winner in Taekwon-do just a year after his first competition.
Darren Reid, 14, scooped the English Junior Open Champion gold medal for sparring at the Championships in London.
He added the medal to his already impressive collection, after he became the junior gold sparring champion at the Scottish Open, in his first competition in March 2007.
On top of that, Darren won the bronze for patterns at the English Open, and silver and bronze medals at the UK Championships in November.
The sparring category is against other opponents, whereas patterns is against an imaginary one.
Darren explained he got into the sport because of problems at school.
He said: "I was being bullied at school, and tried a bunch of other sports, but things like football weren't for me - I just really liked Martial Arts.
"It makes you feel more confident and you know if you get into a bit of a scrap, you'll be able to handle yourself.
"At the same time it give you more discipline."
Currently a blue belt, Darren hopes to move up the ladder to obtaining his black belt, and ultimately teach the sport.
He added: "Teaching someone is great, I like the idea of passing on your knowledge, and then if they do well it fills you with pride knowing what you taught them has worked."
Darren trains three times a week at the Timecapsule in Coatbridge and his practice sessions around the house have led to his six-year-old sister Alannah taking up the sport.
His instructor, Kalwant Dhanda, is a sixth Degree Black Belt who has been faithfully holding classes at the centre for over 17 years.
He believes Darren has what it takes to get to the top.
"The boy started off quite shy but after a couple of training sessions he came out of his shell and he seemd to have a hidden talent," he explained.
"If he sticks at it he'll go a long way, but he's coming up to that difficult age with teenagers when they're interested in other stuff.
"I think if he sticks with it though he's good enough to compete at the Olympics."
For the moment, Darren has turned his attention defending his Scottish Open crown in June, when he competes at the Kelvin Hall Sports Centre.
Anyone interested in taking up Takewon-do should visit www.ukta.com
Darren Reid, 14, scooped the English Junior Open Champion gold medal for sparring at the Championships in London.
He added the medal to his already impressive collection, after he became the junior gold sparring champion at the Scottish Open, in his first competition in March 2007.
On top of that, Darren won the bronze for patterns at the English Open, and silver and bronze medals at the UK Championships in November.
The sparring category is against other opponents, whereas patterns is against an imaginary one.
Darren explained he got into the sport because of problems at school.
He said: "I was being bullied at school, and tried a bunch of other sports, but things like football weren't for me - I just really liked Martial Arts.
"It makes you feel more confident and you know if you get into a bit of a scrap, you'll be able to handle yourself.
"At the same time it give you more discipline."
Currently a blue belt, Darren hopes to move up the ladder to obtaining his black belt, and ultimately teach the sport.
He added: "Teaching someone is great, I like the idea of passing on your knowledge, and then if they do well it fills you with pride knowing what you taught them has worked."
Darren trains three times a week at the Timecapsule in Coatbridge and his practice sessions around the house have led to his six-year-old sister Alannah taking up the sport.
His instructor, Kalwant Dhanda, is a sixth Degree Black Belt who has been faithfully holding classes at the centre for over 17 years.
He believes Darren has what it takes to get to the top.
"The boy started off quite shy but after a couple of training sessions he came out of his shell and he seemd to have a hidden talent," he explained.
"If he sticks at it he'll go a long way, but he's coming up to that difficult age with teenagers when they're interested in other stuff.
"I think if he sticks with it though he's good enough to compete at the Olympics."
For the moment, Darren has turned his attention defending his Scottish Open crown in June, when he competes at the Kelvin Hall Sports Centre.
Anyone interested in taking up Takewon-do should visit www.ukta.com
well done wee man hope you do well
well done ur a mean machine, good luck at the scottish xxxxxx
good luck son at the scottish.... proud of u xxx