Youngster aiming for the top in Taekwondo
TAEKWONDO hopeful, Viroshan Gnanapandithan, has never been to Brazil, but the impressive ten-year-old from Ilford plans to see Rio de Janeiro and its famous beaches in 2016, as one of Britain’s competitors for the Olympic Games.
“My aim is to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. For me, that is the ultimate honour,” the youngster admits.
Viroshan, however, recognises important stepping stones must be negotiated in order to realise his dream.
“My first target is to continue my success on a national level and win 2010 and 2011 National Championships,” he admits. “If I do that, I’ll have a chance of being selected for GB Taekwondo Academy in Manchester.”
“If everything goes to plan this year, I’m hoping to be selected for the Fourth Children’s European Championship in 2011.”
A pupil at Mayes park Primary School in Ilford, Viroshan’s abilities have already caught the eye of the Taekwondo elite with wins in regional, national and international championships, and his impressive performances have earned him a place in the team for the 2010 European Taekwondo Championship.
Earlier this year the young champ also won the Young Sports Personality of the Year award at the British Asian Sports Awards.
“I have already won gold in the 2008 and 2009 National Championships for my age category, so I just have to keep working hard and improving. I really like sparring and, most importantly, winning,” he smiles.
Luckily for Viroshan, he has great role models to guide him.
“ I look up to Aaron Cook, one of Britain’s best young Taekwondo fighters, who competed in the 2008 Olympics, but I am also really grateful to Sivakumar Renganathan, my coach – he’s a brilliant motivator and good friend.”
