Kenneth Edwards
Sean CummingsBY AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter
KENNETH EDWARDS AND Sean Cummings, two of Jamaica's foremost martial arts competitors, go in search of their first world medals at the United States Open on the weekend of July 1.
The US Open, held annually at Disney in Orlando, Florida, is one of the most respected martial arts tournaments in North America and is a leading competition on the international circuit.
Despite their exploits with Jamaica's 10-man Combined Martial Arts team, Edwards and Cummings are the only members without world medals.
Edwards is considered the most outstanding member of Jamaica's adult team travelling to the U.S. Open and unbeaten in 13 matches over the past two and a half-years.
He has been a regular team member since 2003 and is currently the squad's Most Valuable Player. Edwards last attempted to win a world medal at the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF) World Championship in Madrid, Spain last year.
Due to his absence from the USA circuit this year, he will have to fight his way through the ranks at the U.S. Open.
However, Cummings could be seeded after getting a gold medal at the Battle at the Boardwalk in Atlanta in February.
Edwards was at the tournament but was unable to make the middleweight category and captain Jason McKay refused to enter him among the heavyweights.
LACK OF WORLD MEDAL
Cummings has performed creditably since joining the Combined Team last December, winning against Cuba and the United States but has failed to get a stamp of approval from captain and chief selector McKay, reportedly due to his lack of a world medal.
However, McKay recently said Cummings remains a member of the contingent, revealing that only poor performances and absence from training affect team selection.
He has won two matches with the Combined Team but STAR Sports sources said he was close to being dropped from the squad for the upcoming Asian tour after missing three training sessions in June.
Team members who miss four training sessions without medical support are automatically dropped.
Jamaica remains one of few teams in the world for which virtually every member has a world medal.
Bruce McFarlane and Omar Rose are currently world champs and junior Nicholas Dussard boasts a bronze medal from the Junior World Cup.
Arthur Barrows, Dwayne Brown and McKay all have bronze from the 2004 World Cup. Only Cummings, Edwards and Alrick Wanliss, a newcomer, who is on probation, are without world medals.
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