MCKAY Lady Knights captain, Sheckema Cunningham, won silver for Jamaica in the most competitive female division at the US Open, black belt points sparring, in Orlando, Florida, at the weekend.

Cunningham who fights out of the Future Leaders Karate camp and captains Jamaica's female combined martial arts team, was elated to have won silver at the US Open.

The Jamaican was unseeded and had to fight her way through the rounds before being eliminated 5-4 in the final where the gallant effort took it's toll against a fresher seeded fighter.

Cunningham captained Jamaica to victory against Vietnam in team sparring in March in the Lady Knights' second international bout. They had defeated Trinidad in Port of Spain last August, weeks after the team was formed by male captain Jason McKay, who was probably happier with the silver than Cunningham.

"No one expected her to reach anywhere," he said. "She had no experience in this league and doesn't fight on their circuit. The key was she did what she was told and did not try their techniques," he added.

Cunningham is set to leave the island today for Trinidad where she will represent Future Leaders in the Purple Dragon World Karate Championships.