Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Jamaica's Tashauna Grannum (left) in action against Canada's Pascale Arsenauld, who defeated her to advance to the second round of the Junior Women 55 kilos and Under division at the International Taekwon-Do World Championship at the Laval University in Quebec, Canada yesterday. - Contributed

HEAVYWEIGHT KENNETH Edwards yesterday put on an impressive display of power kicking, which awed the crowd watching his first-round sparring contest against Germany's Demi Hodusov at the International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championship in Quebec, Canada.

However, the Jamaican will leave Quebec City a bitter man after the judges awarded the bout to the German, who was at times overwhelmed by Edwards and showed no sign of confidence before the officials announced their decision.

Hodusov landed just one clean kick throughout the four-minute contest, in the first of two rounds, whereas Edwards was consistent throughout.

The Jamaican delegation was left stunned, while the Germans, who were unusually quiet throughout the fight and during the judges' deliberations, broke out into cheers of relief when their man was sent through to the second round.

However, his second round hopes were cut short by a fighter from the Netherlands, Farid Noor, who advanced to the final.

Jamaica declined to lodge a protest, which costs US$100, but the Netherlands did in the final afterNoor scored what seemed like a technical knockout over New Zealand's Carl van Roon, who after long deliberations was strangely awarded the bout, even after one of the floor umpires was overhead saying "it was a knockdown".

Hodusov's coach, Harry Vones, thought long and hard when asked what was his opinion of Edwards.

"He has good technique and a good leg but out of maybe 10 techniques, he'll land one but he's good," he said.

Edwards is convinced he won the bout and said his rival should have been disqualified for excessive contact.

"I believe the judging is unfair," he said.

"Based on the scoring system, considering how many points I scored, my kicks outweighed his punches plus if I had bloodied his nose with a punch I am sure I would have been disqualified.

"He didn't even get a warning," he pointed out.

Earlier, inexperience and a freak injury yesterday resulted in Jamaica's three competitors exiting the morning session of first-round sparring at the Laval University.

Teenagers Tashauna Grannum and Alrick Wanliss, fighting at their first World Champioinships, gave valiant performances but failed to get past fighters from host country Canada and the Ukraine respectively.

Injury

Meanwhile, David Hall, who was carrying an injury sustained on Thursday while running up a flight of stairs at the university, got the better of the Dominican Republic's Jose Bolivar Garcia in his first-round bout but had to be withdrawn, as he could no longer carry on.

Grannum, who was also knocked out of first-round patterns on Thursday, started her bout by trying to land punches to the head of Canada's Pascale Arsenault. However, the Canadian kept her at bay by scoring with her feet.

The 13-year-old Campion College student said her opponent had superior reach.

"I was at a disadvantage as her legs are longer than mine and it affected me every time I tried to get in," she pointed out.

However, she said she was far from disappointed.

"I am glad to get the exposure to experience the World Championship," she said.

Wanliss had problems of his own as he complained of a slippery mat and said he was unable to launch into his opponent.

Veteran Arthur Barrows was the only other Jamaican to reach the second round of sparring but did so after his French opponent failed to show.

Barrows later exited at the second round, beaten by a Welsh opponent.

However, Jamaica's medal hopes were still high as super heavyweight Dwyane Brown was set to contest the evening session.