Dussard leads Jamaica into battle

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

Nicholas Dussard will on Thursday become the youngest captain to lead Jamaica's combined martial arts team, when the crack unit opens action at the International Sports Karate Association's United States Open in Orlando, Florida.

Champions Jamaica are going up against teams from Venezuela, Trinidad and Puerto Rico in the Continental Gold Cup.

Jamaica, though hunting a fifth straight title, are missing two key members from their champion team, Kenneth Edwards and Alrick Wanliss.

Edwards is being prepared for a historic Olympic Games appearance for Jamaica whereas Wanliss, who has fought as a microweight over the years, is unable to make the weight limit.

However, 22-year-old Dussard, Adrian Moore, Oshane Murray and Adrian King are expected to put up a spirited fight as the team seeks to clinch three victories in the round-robin format.

The Jamaicans, normally led by Jason McKay, are undefeated in 44 consecutive team matches in eight years and are going all out to complete 50 undefeated bouts as a gift to Jamaica's 50th year of Independence celebrations.

McKay, a super heavyweight, will not compete at the event which has been restricted to light, heavy and middleweight. Kevin McDowell, another super heavyweight, has also been ruled out.

Despite Dussard's age, nothing is junior about his resume. He has been a member of the combined team since 2006 and has lost only once in the many matches in which he has competed for Jamaica.

He recently wrote another chapter in Jamaica's martial arts history when he regained his International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Pan Am lightweight title in Quebec, Canada.

Dussard, who won Jamaica's first ITF Pan Am gold in Brazil 2008, won gold by beating his great rival ITF world champion Julio Carlos of the United States.

The 22-year-old Jamaican topped off his sparring title by also bagging gold in patterns.