South Dublin Taekwondo athletes Dyzile Chin Estrada, Nicholas Buffini-Taaffe and Sorena Shiravani, alongside coach Cyrus Shiravani, at the Montenegro Podgorica Open 2026, where the Tallaght club secured silver and bronze medals
International success for Tallaght duo
SOUTH Dublin Taekwondo continued their successful international season with two more medals at the Montenegro Podgorica Open 2026, Dyzile Chin Estrada earned a silver medal and Sorena Shiravani secured bronze.
The team travelled to Montenegro for the tournament which attracted competitors from across Europe.
Competing in the junior female -46kg division, Dyzile Chin Estrada progressed to the final following a convincing semi-final victory over Great Britain’s Polly Robertson, winning by two rounds to nil.
In the final, Dyzile faced Serbia’s Mia Buneta, finishing runner-up to secure a silver medal and valuable European ranking points.
Dyzle is proud to be supported by Active South Dublin Emerging athletes bursary 2026.
The result adds to an impressive season for the young South Dublin athlete, who has consistently represented the club at international ranking competitions throughout 2026.
Joining Dyzile on the podium was cadet athlete Sorena Shiravani, competing in the male -33kg division.
Sorena secured his bronze medal following a quarter-final victory over Turkey’s Irfan Emre Sahin, winning the contest by two rounds to nil.
He subsequently faced Saudi Arabia’s Ridha Al Nuwaysir in the semi-final, where the Saudi competitor progressed with a 2-0 victory.
The bronze represents another successful international outing for Sorena, who has also claimed podium finishes at the British Open in Manchester and the Riga Open in Latvia earlier this season.
Also representing South Dublin Taekwondo was Nicholas Buffini-Taaffe, who finished fifth in the same cadet male -33kg division after exiting at the quarter-final stage against Saudi Arabian opposition.
The travelling team was led by club coach Cyrus Shiravani, who oversaw the athletes throughout the competition.
The latest results continue a productive international season for South Dublin Taekwondo, with the club’s young athletes regularly competing against national team representatives and experienced opposition across the European circuit.
Founded in 2008, South Dublin Taekwondo celebrates its 18th anniversary this year.
The club has operated from its dedicated training facility at the Arena Shopping Centre in Tallaght since 2018, providing opportunities for members of all ages and abilities, from recreational beginners to international competitors.
South Dublin Taekwondo welcomes enquiries from prospective new members by emailing info@sd-tkd.com.
