seventh annual Pan American Taekwondo Championships at the International Trade and Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Bermudian red belt Iejaa Caines and officials of Bermuda Taekwondo Association (BTA) are looking for great things this year.

Head instructor at the BTA, Master Richard Smith is among those looking for Caines and other members to be more active this year when more overseas tournaments will be attended by association representatives.

Smith recently returned from Aruba where he attended the Pan American General Assembly where all future competition venues were discussed. Those recommended include Chile, Puerto Rico, Atlanta and Las Vegas.

"We envisage that our school will be sending as many students as possible to these tournaments to gain further international exposure and experience,'' said a BTA spokesman.

"We hope that Iejaa's success will be a boost for our school.

"He not only competed in Savannah, but he was picked out from the many competitors to be a board holder for Master John Lee during his demonstration.

"Iejaa trained hard for the tournament which was his first at an international level. He competed in sparring (fighting), forms and board breaking. He placed first in board breaking and took a gold medal, second in forms for a silver and third in sparring for a bronze.'' The BTA are affiliated with both the World Taekwondo Federation and Pan American Taekwondo Union.

Iejaa Caines: Gold, silver and bronze in Savannah, Georgia.