Zahra wins WKN match in Belfast

Daniel Zahra, a member of Ying Yang Club, extended his positive run by winning his second World Kickboxing Network (WKN) match in Belfast.

The competition was organised by ProKick, a club affiliated to the WKN.

Zahra encountered Mark Bird, an up-and-coming kickboxer from Northern Ireland, in the highlight of an 18-match night between Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

Both athletes vied for the WKN International Prestige Bout with Zahra tipping the scales at 71kg and Bird at 68kg. They figured in a four-round match of two minutes each with K1 Oriental Rules applied, allowing the use of knee techniques.

Zahra and Bird put on an excellent display of kickboxing techniques involving punches, kicks and knees. In the first three rounds, Zahra held the upperhand as he kept Bird under constant pressure.

In the second, Zahra came very close to knocking out Bird by hitting him with a spinning kick to the head.

In the fourth and final round, both kickboxers traded attacks but Zahra was eventually awarded victory by the judges.

Zahra took part in the Belfast competition after replacing a French kickboxer. Thanks to his victory, he improved his WKN record to four wins from four matches.

Last September, Zahra won his category at the WKN Kickboxing World Cup in Malta.

Master Noel Mercieca, founder of the Ying Yang Club, is currently training Terence Cilia for a fight with Prokick member Stuart Jess next month.

For more information about the Ying Yang club one may visit www.yingyangkickboxing.com or contact Mercieca on7920-8283 or merciecanoel@yahoo.co.uk.