Ainsley Walters, Star Writer

JAMAICA's combined martial arts team will defend its Tri-Asian Championship title in Manila, the Philippines, on November 26 against a Pacific-Asia team led by New Zealand's International Taekwondo Federation world champion, Carl van Roon.

The combined men's team has beaten some of the best units in the world but faces probably its stiffest task to date in Asia where it hopes to maintain its hold on the Tri-Asian title, which Jamaica has won since its inception three years ago.

Captain Jason McKay leads a team comprising Kenneth Edwards, Nicholas Dussard and invitee Adrian King.

A notable absentee is one of Jamaica's most decorated fighters, microweight Alrick Wanliss, who was ruled out after not attaining the required training time.

McKay, however, said while Wanliss will be missed and Jamaica has a smaller pool of fighters, as opposed to the Pacific-Asia region, his team has always been at a disadvantage so it's nothing new.

strict training

The strict training requirements for selection have ruled out one of Jamaica's most decorated fighters, microweight Alrick Wanliss, a key fighter for the unit.

"I think despite the fact they have a wider band of selection, which they always do, we will still prove ourselves as being the best," he said.

"When we compete against Japan or China, their band of selection is more than a billion people in China alone. They always have a larger group to draw from," he pointed out.

McKay said he was more concerned about the presence of van Roon.

"'I am less concerned about the number of countries they have to draw from than the single inclusion of van Roon.

"Based on our team strategy, we normally require Edwards to win. In this particular case, Edwards will have his work cut out, which will put us at a disadvantage which we don't normally have to consider," McKay explained.

Invitee King made the team after losing a fight-off, a final, to Oshane Murray. By virtue of losing in a final, he won a spot on the team to the Philippines.

McKay said he was confident of retaining the title.

"I am confident that the level of commitment and training is as such that we will win again," he said.