SHINE: Salendine Nook Taekwondo champion aims for the Olympics
Jul 7 2009 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Salendine Nook Toekwondo champion aims for the Olympics
Richard said: “I started competing in 2003 and just really enjoyed it.
“I wasn’t good at it at the start – I used to lose all the time.
“But I worked hard and eventually came out on top.”
Richard won a gold medal at the Junior British Championships in 2007 and also won a bronze medal at the British National Open in Manchester.
Next week he will compete at the World Taekwondo Federation international open.
His dad, Ravi, travels to all the competitions with Richard to support him.
The 48-year-old told the Examiner: “I think Richard is an excellent example to young people.
“With all the problems that he’s had – he was diagnosed with dyspraxia and his mum is seriously ill – he could have quite easily gone off the rails.
“He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t take drugs. He is level-headed and very mature and a determined sort of person. I am very proud of him and his older brother whose just graduated from university.”
It’s still not too late to get involved with Shine 2009. The festival runs until July 10 and schools across the country are taking part in various activities to celebrate young talent.
Young people can showcase their own talent by uploading photos, videos, stories or blogs on the Shine Week website.
See www.shineweek.co.uk for more of what’s going on in our area.
