Cunningham ontrack for grand slam

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

HAVING secured a clash-sparring gold medal at the recent International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) US Open, Jamaica's most decorated female martial artist, Sheckema Cunningham, has eyes set on two other major targets.

The petite microweight from Future Leaders Karate has two world championship events lined up in her ambition to medal in a trio of martial arts 'grand slam' events this year - the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Champs in Benidorm, Spain, and the International Sport Kickboxing Association's World Championship in Cyprus, both set for late October.

Cunningham left the US Open with two individual medals, silver in continuous sparring and gold in clash sparring, which she shared with Jamaican teammate Danielle Changafter both battled to a draw at the Coronado Resort in Orlando, Florida.

No Jamaican fighter has ever completed a hat-trick of 'grand slam' medals on the international circuit. Cunningham has started with two medals, gold included, and has big hopes of improving on her historic bronze, won at the 2011 ITF World Champs in New Zealand.

"The hardest one is the ITF World Championship," the 28-year-old told The Gleaner.

"If you're not on top of your game, a World Championship medal will only be a dream. That's the medal everybody wants to get," she added.

Huge task

Cunningham became the first Jamaican female to medal at the ITF World Championships when she and male lightweight Alrick Wanliss landed bronze medals in New Zealand 2011.

However, to repeat, or even better her 2011 feat, the female combined team captain knows she has a huge task on hand.

"It's very competitive at the World Championships. That's where you find the best of the best. Everybody wants to win," she pointed out.

Female combined team coach Jason McKay, described Cunningham as a dream to work with and exuded confidence that she can achieve her 'grand slam' quest.

"She came to the female combined team fully prepared by Patrick Chang of Future Leaders," he explained.

"All I had to do was to have her adapt to ITF-style fighting, along with athletic training. Her natural ability and what she came with makes her a natural," McKay added.

Earlier this year, Cunningham won the Dutch and Puerto Rico Open, in addition to gold at the Gator Nationals in Daytona, Florida.