30.5.2017 / 23rd Junior, 32nd Adult, 9th Veteran & 7th Youth European Championships

Success of Taekwondists from Sonkal at European Championship

Old Liverpool harbour hosted this year's European ITF Taekwon-do Championship. Not the harbour itself, but the modern arena in the neighbourhood of historical Albert Dock.
Taekwondists from Sonkal were traditionally a part of Czech National Team, but this year in record number of seven competitors.
In individual patterns, Jiri Novak and Tereza Zilinska were awarded both with bronze medals. Unluckily, performances of Tomas Vodicka, Jana Kovarova and Lenka Hrstkova ended just under the medal positions. Right after, six Sonkal competitors starred in team patterns, where teams of junior males and females and senior males won gold medals. Senior female team ended "just" with silver medals.

All 7 Sonkal members entered the sparring matches. The competition in sparring is really high and it is not easy to succeed there. Jiri Novak proved his long-term performance and in second highest junior weight category won great 3. place. In front of Tereza Stekerova there was a hard quest to defend gold positions from years 2015 and 2016 in highest junior female weight category. Her performance stayed insuperable and she completed her golden hattrick.

Special jumping techniques are exhibition of Czech Taekwon-do and also for Sonkal members. Medals were expected from Jiri Novak and Tereza Stekerova and also from all teams. Jiri Novak was not able to defend gold medal from last year, but he ended up on nice 2. place. In front of Tereza Stekerova there was second hattrick quest. And she succeeded again. In fourth discipline - power breaking test, senior female team surprised and took gold medals from favourite Bulgarians.

Last discipline was self-defence. Sonkal members were part of three teams out of four and all our self-defence performances were awarded with bronze medals. Tomas Vodicka, Jiri Novak, Herbert Kindl and Jana Kovarova finished our success on European Championship. Sonkal members earned or helped to earn in teams 18 medals.
Liverpool is over seniors will start to prepare for September's World Championship.