Muhammads Latest Title Overshadowed by Tragic Luxor Open Death

Lutalo Muhammad and Ruebyn Richards claimed gold medals at the Luxor Open in Egypt but all victories were over shadowed by the death of Turkish athlete Seyithan Akbalik. It is really sad news and hard to put into words, said Muhammad who defeated GB Academy team mate, Damon Sansum, to win the -80kg title. My thoughts go out to his family. I think I speak for everyone on the GB team who fought after what happened that every fight was dedicated to him. However, all the Turkish team made it quite clear he would have wanted us to fight on. Akbalik, 20, who competed in the -63kg division, suffered a suspected cardiac arrest after his competition last Sunday. A spokesman for GB Taekwondo added: It is a sad time for the sport and on behalf of the GB team, as well as British Taekwondo and its members; we offer our sincere condolences to the family of Seyithan Akbalik and all those close to him. Despite the tragedy, organisers decided the event could continue with London 2012 bronze medallist, Muhammad, and Nottingham born Richards the pick of some outstanding performances by a strong GB squad. Manchester based Muhammads thrilling win takes him to within touching distance of the world number one spot while Sansum also collected valuable ranking points plus a last 16 win over Beijing Olympian, Aaron Cook. It was tough because no one knows you better than someone you train against every single day, said Walthamstow Warrior Muhammad of beating former German Open champion, Sansum. I am really happy with the win but also that it was an all GB final. It shows as a team we are dominating the world. It would be amazing to be number one, agreed the World Grand Prix champion from Manchester last December. Its like a video game; youre always trying to move up the rankings. I am getting closer to the number one spot so I just want to keep on winning tournaments and cement a top six ranking place for Rio.

Richards hasnt always enjoyed the best of fortunes since joining the Academy after being recruited as part of the UK Sport backed talent identification programme, Fighting Chance, in 2010. But the 21-year-old, controversially denied a medal at last years World Championships in Mexico, showed his capabilities and his versatility by winning the ultra-tough -68kg weight division. Richards has previously fought at -80kg and -74kg but looked a -68kg natural as he won five fights including a 10-3 final success over home favourite, Ghofran Zaki. In total, Britains squad finished with 10 medals including silvers for: Sansum. Olympic gold girl Jade Jones (-57kg), Jordan Gayle (-63kg) and 2013 World Grand Prix champion, Mahama Cho (+87kg). Next stop for many of the team is the United Arab Emirates and a first ever participation in the Fuijairah Open taking place from February 22-23. RESULTS MEN: -58kg Dominic Brookes (Manchester) First round: bt Fuatcan Aldemir (Turkey) 14-10Second round: bt Mohamed Elsergany (Egypt), sudden death (25-25)Quarter-finals: lost to Elsaid Shawky (Egypt) 131Gurpreet Singh (Forest Gate, London) First round: bt Toko Vanza Dieu (Congo) 11-6Second round: lost to Elsaid Shawky (Egypt) 19-7Darren Chapman (Northampton) First round: lost to Samir Javadli (Azerbaijan) 11-3 -63kg Jordan Gayle (Manchester)First round: Ahmed Ayman (Egypt) 9-4Quarter-final: bt Panta Jure (Slovenia) 10-5Semi- final bt Martin Stamper (Great Britain) 11-3Final: lost 4-3 to Jaouad Achab (Belgium)Michael Harvey (Manchester) First round: bt Bader Al Waheeb (Kuwait) 8-2Quarter-final: walkover Mehmet Evez (Turkey) Semi- final: lost to Jaouad Achab (Belgium) golden point (6-6)Martin Stamper (Liverpool) First round: bt Umut Bildik (Turkey) 6-1Quarter-final bt Youssef Youssef (Egypt) 125Semi- final lost to Jordan Gayle (Great Britain) 11-3 -68kgRuebyn Richards (Nottingham) First round: bt Berkat Akyol (Turkey) 9-6Second round: bt Filipino Grgic (Croatia) 122Quarter-final: bt Raiha Chin (France) 5-4Semi- final bt Jose Atencia (Spain) 6-5Final:

bt Ghofran Zaki (Egypt) 10-3Ben Haines (Portsmouth) First round: ByeSecond round: bt Viacheslav Storchak (Ukraine) 9-6Quarter-final bt Daniel Barrera (Spain) golden point (6-6)Tony Stephenson (Bury)First round lost to Jean Francois Sarr (France) 5-4 74kgAndrew Deer (Tamworth) First round: bt Giresse Tshimanga (Democratic Republic of Congo) 7-5Quarter-final: walkover Okan Simsek (Turkey)Semi- finalist to Ilkin Shahbazov (Azerbaijan) 86George Lee (Lewisham)First round: lost to Okan Simsek (Turkey) 9-7.80kgDanny Dowling (Exeter) First round lost to Cem Unlusoy (Germany) 15-4Lutalo Muhammad (Walthamstow, London) First round: ByeSecond round: bt Mohamed Maher 15-3Quarter-final: bt Piotr Pazinski (Poland) 9-7Semi- final bt Ramin Azizov (Azerbaijan) 7-5Final: bt Damon Sansum (Great Britain) 12-9Tom Smith (Poplar, London) First round: ByeSecond round: lost to Mamedy Doucara (France) 11-9Damon Sansum (Elgin) First round: bt Mahmoud Fathy Said (Egypt) 15-2Second round: bt Aaron Cook (Isle of Man) 22-21Quarter-final: bt Mamedy Doucara 20-8 Semi- final: bt Maksim Rafalovich (Uzbekistan) 14-12Final: lost to Lutalo Muhammad (Great Britain) 12-9 +87kgMahama Cho (Abidjan)First round: ByeSecond round: bt Dmitriy Shokin (Uzbekistan) 7-5Quarter-final: bt Stergios Roidis (Greece) 6-1 Semi- final: bt Volker Wodzich (Germany) 8-3Final: lost to Mohamed Ayman (Egypt) 31Lyle Walker (Law, Lanarkshire) First round: ByeSecond round: lost to Abdelrahman Elhendi (Egypt) 15-3Murdo Mackenzie (Inverness)First round: Bye Second round: lost to Omar El Yazidi (Egypt) 9-1 FEMALE -49kg Georgia Barnes (Southampton) First round: bt Patricia Striner (Sweden) Quarter-final: bt Patimat Abakarova (Azerbaijan) 4-0Semi- final lost to Lucija Zaninovic (Croatia) golden point (6-6) -57kg Jade Jones (Flint) First round: Bye Quarter-final: bt Seyma Tuncer (Turkey) 10-1Semi- final: bt Nikita Glasnovic (Sweden)

8-4Final lost to Hedaya Wahba (Egypt) 10-7Nicole Huntington (Ipswich)First round: lost to Nikita Glasnovic (Sweden) 9-4 -62kg Rachelle Booth (Wigan) First round: lost to Nina Klae (Switzerland) 8-5 -67kgIndia Isles (Perth) First round: lost to Darya Ishchenko (Russia) 4-1Taylor Shaw (Scarborough)First round: Bye Second round: lost to Farida Azizova (Azerbaijan) golden point (3-3)+73kgStephanie Allen (Battersea) First round lost to Lada Philippova (Russia) 12-6Bianca Walkden (Liverpool) First round bt Rajher Nusa (Slovenia) 5-4Quarter-final: lost to Gwladys Epangue (France) 6-4.

Nick Kelly GB Taekwondo nick.kelly@gbtaekwondo.co.uk

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