Manjimup boy wins gold at Perth taekwondo tournament

A 10-year-old Manjimup taekwondo enthusiast has brought home the gold from a Perth competition after winning a point sparring bout in the red/black belt division. Owen Stenbeck secured the win at the ATI Taekwondo Club Championships in Perth on May 25. Having practiced taekwondo for three and a half years Owen — currently a red belt three — won three of four fights, including the final. He said he felt excited by his win and called the experience “exhilarating”. “I had never won anything in sparring before and it was just really exhilarating to go up there and get it,” he said. “I felt really nervous in the first (fight), and in the last I was really nervous as it was for gold and silver. “It felt really good having my hand pulled up as the winner and it was a highlight. Owen said he wants other to give taekwondo a go. “In my first competition, I didn’t know what to do, but I talked to someone and they told me what I needed to do,” he said. “It can be hard to start, but if you keep trying, you can really get something in the sport.”