Shoucair

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

A PERFECT year in which the Jamaica Combined Martial Arts team went unbeaten in 21 international bouts, completing their tally against Cuba on Saturday, has the team's main sponsor, Jamaica Beverages Limited, totally committed to the staging of the International Sports Karate Association's (ISKA) World Continuous Fighting Championship in Jamaica later this year.

The Combined Team's fourth consecutive victory over Cuba, in the annual Caribbean Games in Havana on Saturday, added to other high-profile scalps such as Japan, China, Poland, the United States, England, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic.

With the crown jewel in the team's achievements being the World Continental Championships at the United States Open in July, Paul Shoucair, general manager of Jamaica Beverages, said his company, along with parent firm, SM Jaleel of Trinidad and Tobago, was happy with their win streak and are eagerly awaiting final plans for the ISKA championship on local soil.

"They have had a tremendous year and I expected them to go to Cuba and win but it was tougher than they expected," he said. "They won the World Continental Championships last year and we're looking to bring an even bigger tournament here with possibly 10 teams. It's towards the end of next year and that's what we're gearing towards."

Heavy costing

Shoucair pointed out that it could very well cost Jamaica beverages more than the $4 million spent on sponsorship for the past season.

"Anything to do with the Busta Fighters is money well spent," he said. "The tournament would be a tremendous achievement for Jamaica and Jamaica Beverages.

"The last ISKA tournament was covered by ESPN Sports Network at the US Open and the organisation was excellent; hopefully, we can replicate it. We're looking at costing. Obviously, it will cost us more but our head office in Trinidad and Tobago is committed to it and it will be a major coup for Jamaican martial arts and the Caribbean," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, team captain, Jason McKay, said the team is now looking forward to a six-week rest following Saturday's brutal match against Cuba.

"After winning the Tri-Asian Champs in Hong Kong, we were really focused on Cuba but we had five persons either injured or on other Combined Team-sponsored world championship assignments in Japan and Colombia."

McKay said plans for next year include warm-up matches against Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, in January and February, respectively, before starting prepa-rations for their World Continental Championships defence in Orlando in the summer.