Three young athletes from BMA Clondalkin are flying the flag for their club, community and country as they take to the mats and ring at the WAKO Youth European Championships in Jesolo, Italy, running from 12th–21st September.

Representing Ireland at this elite and prestigious event are brothers Cayden and Roan Derwin, alongside Fionn Kelly, under the guidance of club coach Robert Barrett.

Roan Derwin will contest an incredible three categories – PF OC, LC OC and KL OC – all in the -42kg division.

His older brother Cayden, competing in his final outing as a junior having just turned 18, will enter the K1 OJ -71kg ring discipline.

Fionn Kelly, aged 17 and making his debut on the Team Ireland squad, will test himself in both LC J and KL J -79kg.

Head Coach Ilija Salerno expressed his pride in the dedication shown by the trio:

“These three only miss a session if they are sick. Even on their own birthdays, there’s no better place for them than in the studio training.”

Salerno also praised the work of senior coach Robert Barrett:

“Robert has done a brilliant job developing our junior elite team and putting them through an intense training camp leading up to these Championships.”

Coach Barrett added:

“The hard work is done. Now it’s up to them to perform. They are all capable of finishing on the podium. They’ve already proven themselves against some of the best in the world at international tournaments and World Cups.”

This year’s WAKO Youth European Championships has broken all records, with over 2,600 registrations from 40 nations, making it the largest Youth European Championship ever staged by WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations).

Team Ireland is fielding 139 entries across 78 athletes, with three of them proudly hailing from Clondalkin.

As the biggest stage in European youth kickboxing gets underway, the community will be cheering for BMA Clondalkin’s fighters as they aim for Euro glory.