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Martial arts trio medal at Pan-Am Championships

Garon Wilkinson, Shannon Ford, and Samir Furqan all medalled at the Pan-American Wushu Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina last week, bringing home two bronze and one silver.

Wilkinson, who competed in the traditional open hand forms, won the silver, while Ford snatched bronze in the 80kg san shou and Furqan claimed bronze in the 56kg junior san shou.

The trio were part of the six-man, one woman Bermuda team that competed at the eighth edition of the championships.

The squad included Sentwali Woolridge, Reyel Bowen, Jermal Woolridge and Talia Iris.

Ford and Furqan both earned byes to the semi-finals where they competed against Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Alex Cisne of USA and Brandon Herreras Montalvo of Peru respectively.

Furqan went down two rounds to nil in a close decision to claim third place, while Ford also went down by the same score against Cisne to take third in the 80kg category.

Wilkinson completed the medal tally when he competed in the traditional northern open hand forms and other weapons 26 to 35 years division as part of the first Traditional Pan-American Wushu Championship.

He managed a flawless open hand routine to earn him the silver medal, however, Wilkinson's chain whip broke after a strong start in his form in the open weapons division.

Another athlete who also used a chain whip offered Wilkinson the option to use his and after a full one point deduction and a temporary fix on the weapon, Wilkinson reportedly delivered a flawless chain whip routine.

The one point deduction proved costly with the Bermudian finishing in fifth place.

Sentwali Woolridge lost to Joao Oliveira of Brazil two-nil, while Iris lost a split points decision over two rounds to Gabriela Cerron Quintanilla of Peru.

Bowen won his first round convincingly over Formaniuk Baasilio of Argentina with superior striking and takedowns before bowing out at the next stage.

Jermal Woolridge took on Joshue Cordoba of Venezuela, going down two-nil, with the Venezuelan outscoring the Bermuda with kicks.