South Surrey athletes help Canada win 13 kickboxing medals in China

Canadian kickboxers, including several from South Surrey, earned 13 medals at the Asia-Pacific/Oceania Championship Cup in Sanya, China. The team finished with eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals at an event with more than 800 participants.

The delegation was led by International Sport Kickboxing Association president and Team Canada head coach Mostafa Sabeti, along with South Surrey sensei Solmaz Namva. Fifteen athletes trained at Sabeti’s Golden Glory & Fitness Martial Arts Academy, while other competitors travelled from Ottawa and Toronto.

Arya Sabeti won four gold medals in Kick Light, full-contact kickboxing, boxing and Muay Thai. Aryan Sabeti won Kick Light gold and K-1 Light Rules silver, while Arman Moledina collected two gold medals. Aliya Moledina, Behnam Behseta and Dr. Arno Smith also won gold.

Sabeti said the event gave developing Canadian athletes important international experience. The program will now continue training ahead of the World Championship in Spain.