3rd in Australian Selections
This year’s selections had a smaller field of competitors. Last year, in the same division category there were 11 or 12 players, this year only 7. So immediately, we were straight into the semi-finals. The semi only had one poomsae to perform at the judge’s decision – all players would perform the same one.
I got through the semi-finals ranking 3rd place with 8.22 or so. Dale was first then Mun-Jae Kim. We all had to perform Koryo for the semi. Comparing to the field from last year, Dale Bryce was the only person who beat me last year who came back this year. Mun-Jae came 1st last year in the 14-17 yr category.
Our finals was two poomsaes (Keumgang & Pyongwon). At the end of it Mun-Jae got gold with 17.5, Dale got silver with 16.9 and I walked away with bronze scoring 16.7.
I’m happy with that!
I remember feeling like I screwed up Keumgang. Some of the rotation I didn’t complete (ie. I under-rotated). My foot stomping was not as strong as Dale’s or Mun-Jae’s, I look about 20kg lighter than them, also.
Pyongwon I felt really good about. I kept my balance for the turning side-kicks, the only thing I might’ve been worried about was fist positioning for the move directly after the ki-haps. When I sat down, even Dale commended my Pyongwon effort.
For a bronze, I’m obviously not too overly excited at that. I improved from last year’s position of 5, though. What I AM happy about is that I scored 16.7 for that bronze. Some other categories, that would have been good enough for gold.
As it so happens, 17.5 by Mun-Jae Kim was the highest scoring final for the day/competition. So to be compared in the same context is an honour.
Roy Khoh
