courtesy of: The Morning News
Last Friday and Saturday, the Aruban delegation of Taekwondo succeeded in winning a gold and bronze medal in the Canada Open. Aischal vd Linde took home the gold and Stuart Smit won the Bronze Medal. This Canadian Open boasted the participation of some of the best fighters from various parts of the world. They were all well prepared on the eve of the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games. Aruba’s 2010 athlete, Stuart Smit, who currently lives and trains in Holland traveled together with his coach, the Korean Pet, from Holland to Canada. Stuart succeeded in winning two games and also lost two games in the double elimination, thus winning the Bronze Medal.
Stuart’s first victory was from Charles Drake of the US, and then he won Jasmel Acosta. Fighting his way into the grand final, Stuart lost to Marc Andr of Canada. He then fought again and lost this fight with Drake Charles of the US in the double elimination, but kept his Bronze Medal.
Much information about the other athletes was not available. Except that Aischal van der Linde was expected to face off with some very prominent fighters.
The president of Aruba’s Taekwondo Bond, Aruban Jose “Chaco” Cornelio, also went to Canada to referee the games. Referee Chaco Cornelio is one of the referees elected by the London 2012 Olympic Games.
On Saturday afternoon, Aruban Aischal van der Linde, made history for her native Aruba when she defeated Canadian Sibyl Tan in the double elimination in Taekwondo.
Aischal fought in the adult ladies category up to 49 kilos. This was a championship in the double elimination. Aischal fought 4 fights, which were extremely difficult as she fought against some of the very best fighters in the field of Taekwondo.
Aischal got to the final without losing any games, but then she lost to Canadian Sibyl Tan 1-0 in sudden death. However, because Aischal had not lost any previous games, while Sybil Tan had lost one, they had to face each other again. Under the guidance of Coach Teo Rodriguez and with the support of the rest of the crew, Aischal faced off to Sibyl Tan for the third time.
This time, the game was in her favor and she succeeded in winning Canadian Sibyl Tan with a final score of 7-3 and the prestigious Gold Medal for Aruba. This is Aischal’s first gold medal in such a big tournament like the Canada Open.
In Aischal’s first fight she won 3-1 from Canadian Jerrikka Nahibuan. Aruba is now the proud winner of a Bronze from Stuart Smit and a Gold Medal from Aischal van der Linde in the prestigious Canada Open Taekwondo Games. Coach Teo Rodriguez of Tiger Taekwondo Academy, who prepared Aischal van der Linde of the Aruba Brazil Taekwondo Foundation, is very proud with these medals…especially with the Gold Medal!
Aruba too is very proud of our young people and leaders who excel in their fields of expertise. We are proud of Stuart Smit and Aischal van der Linde….and with Coach Teo Rodriguez who played such a vital role in the Canada Open tournament.
