For two years Scott Chaffey had a clear view of the desired result of all the intense training sessions.
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Defending his cruiserweight karate title at the Koshiki Super World Championships in London, Canada, on July 28 was what he had visualised.
What he hadn’t visualised was a Russian opponent’s kick to his groin – a development in the fight for the gold medal that sunk the Tamworth martial artist’s championship quest quicker than you could say: “Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.”
Chaffey went down, but he was not out. Although impaired, he fought on – only to lose by a point.
“Two minutes into the [three minute] match there was a strike to the groin which put me down for a little bit,” he said.
“I managed to regather myself and come back to fight the last minute of the round but, yeah, it [the low blow] was definitely a bit of a factor.
“He managed to land the final strike which secured the win for him in that final minute.”
The Russian received a verbal warning for the low shot.
Chaffey, 35, had better luck in the three-man Bunkai (kata) event – winning gold in a team that included Inverell’s Nick King. They beat three Japanese teams along the way.
Chaffey’s younger sister, Kristie, meanwhile, beat a Canadian to defend her middleweight world title.
She won silver in the individual kata event.
“I was very happy with how I went,” she said.