Riddell poised for glory at WAKO Europeans

LJAYS Elite Martial Arts combatant Josh Riddell is in Istanbul, Turkey this week to compete in the WAKO European Junior Kickboxing Championships.

One of five fighters representing the Kilnamanagh club on the international stage this year, Riddell is set to compete in the Junior Male -63kg Light Contact and -63kg Kick Light categories in the coming days.

Taking place in Turkey between Saturday, August 25 and September 3, the European Championships tend to be a stage where Riddell shines.

A well-known fighter on the international circuit, Riddell returned home from the previous tournament as European champion in the Older Cadet -63kg Kick Light category.

That was in 2021, when Riddell dispatched of Poland’s Oskar Ciepluch in the decider, emerging victorious with a 3-0 win to secure the European title.

On the run-in, Riddell ignited his campaign with a first-round stoppage of Jan Kreps in the Last 16, before beating Armenian Erik Martirosyan and Marin Servic.

In the light contact event that year, Riddell overcame Czech fighter Kreps and the Croatian Sevic before facing Alexandros Plaskasovitis in the decider, settling for silver after being edged out 2-1.

An elite fighter, coach and role model for students in the family run club in Kilnamanagh, Riddell will be aiming to replicate his previous feat once again and bring a medal back home.

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