Danielle Kawiti (left), Sam Jacobs, Grand Master Charles Rawlins of Australia, Master Kesi O'Neill and Dan Maireroa at the Malaysian Open. Photo / Supplied
Danielle Kawiti (left), Sam Jacobs, Grand Master Charles Rawlins of Australia, Master Kesi O'Neill and Dan Maireroa at the Malaysian Open. Photo / Supplied
A New Zealand team stacked with Bay of Plenty athletes has prospered among more than 1000 competitors at the Malaysian Open.
Tauranga fighter Danielle Kawiti won silver in the under-68kg division, while clubmate Sam Jacobs brought home gold in the under-78kg class.
Fellow Tauranga fighter Sean Wells fought well ina stacked division with 26 competitors but failed to medal, while Dan Maireroa added a bronze and gold medal to the impressive New Zealand haul.
"I am very proud of them all, their hard work and dedication paid off," high-performance manager Master Kesi O'Neill said.
Competing against faster athletes from a range of Asian nations was an eye-opener for the New Zealand team, but O'Neill was happy with how their technique stood up against their more experienced rivals.
His charges will be in action on home turf this weekend at the Bay Open, which will take over the QE2 Centre on Saturday from 8.30am.
More than 200 competitors are expected to take part, including the visiting Australian team, so there is bound to be plenty of transtasman rivalry on show.
Following this event, members of the New Zealand team will build towards the Australian Open in mid-November, while the younger competitors will target the junior world championships in Chinese Taipei next May.
