Todd & Dyer Aim To Win Medals In Bali
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Kallan Todd will look to retain his Glory Rules and K1 junior titles at the World Kickboxing and Karate Association [WKA] World Championships in Bali, Indonesia, next month.
Todd emerged as Bermuda’s golden competitor at the previous championships in Prestatyn, Wales, in November last year, winning both his events in the male 16-17 209-pound plus division.
The 16-year-old is in his final year as a junior and has also entered the Muay Thai, Low Kick Kickboxing, and Freestyle Kickboxing categories in Bali.
A recipient of the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme, Todd will compete in at least three of his five events.
Garon Wilkinson, the Bermuda Sanshou Association [BSA] president, believes the championships, running from June 19 to 26, will serve as another important lesson in Todd’s education as a fighter.
“We want Kallan to get plenty of exposure,” Wilkinson told Bernews. “We expect him to make a big splash in the senior division next year, so we hope to get him as many quality fights as possible.
“Kallan will look to win golds again and hopefully pick up a medal or two in his other categories.”
Also representing the BSA in Bali is Krista Dyer, who claimed silver in Glory Rules and K1 in the women’s 139-pound division last year.
The 35-year-old has entered four categories – K1, Glory Rules, Low Kick Kickboxing, and Freestyle Kickboxing – and could also have an opportunity to compete in the prestigious Emerge Fight Series.
“Krista has reached the stage in her career when she has to give it her all,” Wilkinson said. “She will look to go one better than last year and win gold.
“We expect the championships to be more competitive than in Wales because some Asian nations did not compete because of the travel distance. The Philippines and Indonesia will have a big contingent.”
Todd and Dyer will prepare for the championships at a training camp in Long Island, New York.
“We’re keen for Krista to get good sparring against other females, which is hard to do in Bermuda,” Wilkinson added.
“We also want Kallan to get quality sparring against other big guys who are good in the clinch.
“To achieve something better, we need to do something different, so we said, ‘Let’s make the sacrifice and get our last bit of prep in New York.”
