Central Academy had players at 2 internationals over the weekend of 10th and 11th November 2012. At the Residence Open in The Haag, Holland we had 4 competitors who came home with 3 medals.

Lesley Jakubiak won a silver in the Senior Female -49kg losing out in the final 1-0 to a Dutch opponent. Hassan Haider won a bronze after coming really close to making the final. He lost against the Dutch National Team on a sudden death golden point! Erin Shaw was competing at her first international and did really well to bring home a silver after making it through to the final. Aidan Thompson from Denny also made his international debut – he put in a very strong performance but just missed out on the medals.

Asia Bailey and Jordyn Smith were representing Scotland at the 18th Croatia Open International in Zagreb. Jordyn (Cadet Female -29kg) won through to the semis after beating a strong Croatian opponent. She produced a superb performance in her semi-final match against Bulgaria but suffered some highly controversial judging decisions and had to settle for a bronze medal.

Asia produced some of her best ever Taekwondo to become the first Scottish athlete ever to take Gold at the Croatia Open. It was a massive event with 1327 players from 37 countries and some of the best junior females around were in Asia's -44kg division. Asia won her four matches against national team players from Serbia, Germany, Poland (current European Cadet Champion!) and Czech Republic. She was the only player from the UK to come away with a gold! Asia adds the Croatia Open Champion title to her Dutch Open, British Championship and Junior World Bronze won earlier this year. She is now in training for the French Open in Paris on 2nd December.