INTERNATIONAL TAEKWONDO FEDERATION (ITF) president, Grand Master Tran, sat transfixed yesterday as defending champions Jamaica scored a stunning victory over World International Taekwondo Federation champions Argentina in the final of the US Open World Continental Team Fighting Championship in Orlando, Florida.

After the most revered man in the ITF, a Vietnamese now living in Canada, greeted the champions, he spoke glowingly of Jamaica and the tournament which has now become the signature opener for the world's biggest martial arts Open.

"I am very pleased to here," said Tran, who also took time out to greet his countrymen who participated in the tournament, one of the rare occasions that communist Vietnam's martial artists have travelled outside Asia.

"This is a grand atmosphere and the competitors showed good attitude," said Tran. "I am also happy to see the good progress by Jamaica and hope they will continue to develop," he added.

Jamaica got past the United States and Germany to roar into the final against Argentina, who registered victories over Vietnam and New Zealand.

retired hurt

Alrick Wanliss took out Germany's Sirko Krause and Nicholas Dussard got past Robert Schell, who injured himself during the bout and had to retire hurt.

Arthur Barrows replaced Shukura but got tagged by the big Muris Horstman a couple times while trying to stay out of the hyperweight's reach, eventually losing his bout as the Germans pulled within a point.

It was left to Edwards to once again anchor the team and he turned in another superb performance to outclass Anton Girsten, firing Jamaica into the final.

The final was an explosive one with the tournament's top two microweights, Wanliss and the dreadlocked Pablo Pascuzzo feeling out each other before the Jamaican found his range and displayed his versatility with precise sidekicks.

Dussard was all over Serrano, firing lightning-fast kicks, backed up with punches to make it 2-0 in the defending champs' favour.

A pumped-up Edwards simply outclassed Cesar Favalli to send the Jamaicans leaping in ecstasy for a well-deserved victory.

Paul Shoucair of Jamaica Beverages, under whose Busta brand the tournament is staged, said he was surprisingly more confident of Jamaica's victory this year.

"I feel so good," he said. "There were no jitters this time. I expected Argentina to put up a better fight but the Jamaicans were really good.

"What also impressed me was the change in format, no Jamaican judges and the recognition from Master Tran. I am really impressed," Shoucair added.