Ava hoping to kick her way to glory

THE WKU kickboxing world championships will, pardon the pun, kick off in the Welsh capital of Cardiff next week and 11-year-old Strabane kick boxer Ava Logue, a Year 8 pupil at Holy Cross, will be a part of the NI team hoping to bring home the gold.

Ava, who trains at Kick Fit Strabane under the tutelage of her dad Aodhan, has only been at the sport since the start of the year so to be chosen for a place on the team means a great deal. Ava will be fighting what is called ‘full contact’.

As Aodhan explained, “Ava’s tried kickboxing in the past, always been messing about with me but would lose interest after a while. However, she began coming into the gym in January with a determination and she hasn’t left the gym or looked back since. Ava has really come on leaps and bounds, working really hard every day in the gym.

“My club is affiliated with the WKU; everyone has been training exceptionally hard. They’ve obviously been keeping a close eye on our fighters as a few different members were chosen to represent NI at the WKU’s. Unfortunately, circumstances meant that most couldn’t do it which left Ava as the last person standing. She’s absolutely thrilled to be chosen to be part of the 38 person team and we’re all very proud of Ava to have gotten to this level. She’s won some medals since really starting kickboxing seriously but being chosen for the NI team is wonderful.”`

Aodhan, wife Antoinette and two of their other children will be on the plane to Cardiff this Sunday to cheer on Ava. Aodhan remarked that the family has been overwhelmed by the support shown by Strabane.

“Looking for sponsorship, Strabane really stepped up. Seven businesses in the town have been so generous in offering their support and Ava is so grateful for that support. It shows the depth of local spirit that we really get behind our own in this town,” he said.