Ainsley Walters, Star Writer

JAMAICAN hyperweight and individual silver medallist from last year's United States Open, Shiah Shukura, has declared himself fit and ready for the Busta World Continental Team Fighting Championship despite concerns about the Montegonian not being in camp in the Corporate Area with his combined martial-arts teammates.

Shukura, who shocked all and sundry last year at the US Open in Orlando, Florida, taking silver in the under-30 hyperweight division, has received his first ever call-up as a starter on two-time defending champions Jamaica's five-man team, which will face the likes of Vietnam, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand and hosts United States.

absence of veterans

Drafted into the squad of five due to the absence of veterans Arthur Barrows and Dwayne Brown, Shukura has high hopes of maintaining his strong early-season form at the July 2-4 US Open.

"I am always training. I never stop training," said the lanky-but-sturdy six-footer.

"Being in camp in Kingston, you'll get certain technical help. However, I train around the clock. Not being in Kingston on a consistent basis won't affect me in any way," he added.

However, team captain Jason McKay said, considering the level of competition Jamaica are down to face, he would've loved to have Shukura in camp.

"Shukura has had a reasonable career as a fighter so far and has blossomed late, as he entered the black belt division, a bit later than the others," McKay noted.

"He lives in Montego Bay and does not come under the direct tutorship of coach Claude Chin or the combined team's training programme,"

"However, his main advantage is size as he is, by far, the biggest fighter on the combined team and is enjoying his best season ever. Despite not training with the team, I believe this is the year in which he will be able to really show what he has," the Jamaican captain pointed out.

specific tasks

Coach Chin said he has given Shukura specific tasks and was confident he will be in shape when he sees him at this weekend's Seido Open at the University of Technology (Utech).

"Not seeing him will affect us a little but not too much," said Chin. "He's still training. I've given him certain things to work on. He is on form and I will see him this weekend at Utech," Chin assured.

Meanwhile, Shukura said there was no need to worry.

"I agree I would get more technical stuff in Kingston but the bottom line is I am training regularly. Wanliss and I collaborate and work on stuff," he said, referring to team-mate and fellow Montegonian Alrick Wanliss, an International Taekwondo Federation World Cup champion who will be Jamaica's first man out.

"I am always training. I never stop training ... "