Above and left: Yun Jung Taekwondo and Noble Park Secondary College student Seda Demirkiran won a bronze medal at the Australian Team Selection Trials earlier this month. Pictures: Stewart Chambers.By Glen Atwell
BLACK belt Seda Demirkiran dreams of joining Lauren Burns as Australia’s only female Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
And the 14-year-old Keysborough resident has her sights set on the 2012 London Olympics.
For now, however, Demirkiran is reflecting on the bronze medal she won at the Australian Team Selection Trials held earlier this month at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville.
Demirkiran missed out on qualifying for the Asian Junior Championships, to be held in Jordan later this year, but was overjoyed to exit the annual tournament with a medal.
The Noble Park Secondary College year nine student only achieved her black belt status in January, and was the first representative from Springvale’s Yun Jung Taekwondo to enter the prestigious competition.
Demirkiran crafted her success in the 14 to 17 years old under 46 kilogram category, meaning the pint-sized puncher was battling opponents much older.
The competition started at 9am and Demirkiran fought hard to progress to the round robin stage.
Six fights later, and with the clock approaching 6pm, Demirkiran was exhausted, but had a bronze medal to show for her efforts.
She attributed much of her success to the four or five hours of training and preparation she does every day of the week.
“I’m not too worried about going out or having fun,” she said. “My training always comes first. I can make up for lost time with friends at school, but training is too important to miss.
“How much effort I put into my training now is what I will get out at tournaments,” Demirkiran said.
Demirkiran, who is now focused on preparing for the Australian Open and National Junior Championships in Adelaide in September, praised the dedication of her coach Yun Jung Bang.
“My coach is always there and helps me to continue,” she said.
“Without him the bronze, or any of my other wins, would mean nothing.”
Yoshiko Kera, a senior instructor at Yun Jung Taekwondo, said Demirkiran showed amazing ability and dedication for someone so young.
“Seda has great talent and she trains so hard,” she said.
“It was the first time a student from our club entered the selection trials, to win a medal was even better.
“Seda’s motto is ‘nothing is impossible’ and she is starting to convince us,” Kera said.
