From father to son ... Combined team has new captain

Ainsley Walters, Star Writer

THE baton was safely passed by outgoing captain Jason McKay to his mentee, Nicholas Dusard, as Jamaica's combined martial arts team defeated a United States International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) unit 5-2 at the weekend in New Jersey, signalling a new era in the sport, locally.

Saturday's victory at the Ultimate Taekwondo Challenge pushed Jamaica's tally to 53 undefeated team matches, contested on every continent, bar Africa, since 2004.

Dusard joined the combined team in 2005, groomed by McKay since age 10, and completed a smooth transition from rookie to successful 24-year-old team leader on Saturday.

A proud McKay, travelled as a member of the team but was nursing an injury and stood in as coach.

"I was very nervous. I don't believe I have ever been that nervous," Dusard confessed.

"I had the duty of sending out fighters, planning the bouts so the team didn't lose."

Jamaica won 5-2 but had a shaky start after Ackeem Lawrence was defeated in the opening bout. Olympian Kenneth Edwards levelled the score at 1-1, Adrian Moore made it 2-1 for Jamaica, Scott Wright extended the lead to 3-1 and Kevin Brown guided Jamaica to safe waters at 4-1 in the seven-match bout.

Dusard was up next but lost his fight against old rival Julio Carlos, silver medallist at last year's ITF World Championship.

"When I went in, we had already won. I pushed myself down the order to fight Julio. Were I not the captain, I would have been really upset, but all I cared about was that the team won," he said.

Leading a team, including McKay, who he regards as "mentor, father and friend", was special to Dusard.

"It's kinda awkward, actually. How do you manage the person who has managed you all your life? It's a good chance to grow, learn and get out of his shadow so you can manage other guys and groom them to be future captains," he reasoned.

McKay, Dusard pointed out, has been helpful in his new role as regular team guy.

"It's good that he hasn't just resigned as captain and left. He is still there to guide me along, help me out with what is needed, what is expected of a captain. If I should ever fall, there is somebody who has been doing it for 10 years," he said.

The new captain said his goal will be to carry the team to the 100-undefeated mark. He also has Rio 2016 on his radar.

"The next step is to see how far I can carry the team undefeated. A century would be good," said the former Wolmer's Boys' School standout and 2005 Prime Minister's Youth Award for Sports awardee.

"The Olympics are in two years' time. I have been inactive on the World Taekwondo Federation scene for a while but I hope to play catch-up after the ITF World Cup in Jamaica later this year."

Jamaica hosts the ITF World Cup, August 26-30, in Montego Bay.