Renfrewshire martial arts fighters achieve remarkable medal haul on home soil
Renfrewshire martial arts students brought international glory home last week – returning from the World Taekwon-do Championships with a remarkable haul of medals and unforgettable performances.
Three members of the Phoenix Taekwon-do and Korean Kickboxing Renfrewshire club secured medals at the championships held on their home turf at Braehead Arena.
Elena Poulos, James Allan and Isla Caldwell were amongst 13 students of the Renfrew club who joined instructor Kev Wyllie in stepping onto the world stage.
Elena, an incredible 43-year-old grandmother, won gold in the individual sparring category.
Having only joined the club 18 months ago, she now holds eight national and international titles, including the Irish, British, English and Scottish championships. Her latest victory at the worlds cements her as one of the fastest-rising stars in UK martial arts.
James brought home silver in the men's individual sparring contest after a hard-fought campaign in the senior male division, showcasing exceptional skill and determination.
But it wasn't just the adults who saw success on the day, with 13-year-old Isla also displaying maturity and technical brilliance far beyond her years to win a silver medal in the girls patterns competition.
And young Keiran Tillery made an outstanding debut on home soil, winning gold with Scottish competitors in the team sparring category in his first-ever competition.
Instructor Kev also impressed on the day, fighting his way back on to the stage after a heart attack just a few months ago.
The 55-year-old fought his way to the quarter-finals in the men's heavyweight sparring competition, including a commanding 17–3 win over a top Canadian opponent.
Kev – who led 300 Scottish athletes into the opening ceremony playing the bagpipes with the Paisley & District Royal British Legion Pipe Band – said: 'The global event attracted over 1,700 competitors from around the world, transforming Braehead into the epicentre of martial arts for a spectacular weekend of elite competition.
'From the Renfrew club, 13 local athletes joined me in stepping on to the world stage – and their performances were nothing short of inspiring.
'To win on home soil, in front of friends, family, and the local community, made this an unforgettable experience. We've always believed in the strength of our Renfrewshire fighters – and they proved they belong on the world stage.'
Phoenix Taekwon-do and Korean Kickboxing Renfrewshire continue to offer classes for all ages and levels at Renfrew Leisure Centre and venues across the region.
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