SELANGOR flexed their muscles on the opening day of the taekwondo competition by bagging five out of the six gold medals at stake at the Dewan Besar Institute Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) in Wakaf Tapai, Marang, yesterday.

Only Terengganu’s Amir Fakhri Amiruddin managed to stop the Selangor juggernaut when he won the men’s welterweight (72kg-78kg) gold medal – the last for the day.

The 19-year-old Polytechnic student from Dungun went on a lap of honour, hoisting the state flag, at the packed hall after defeating Nicholas Nathan of Selangor 4-3 in a nail-biting final.

Earlier, three of his team-mates had gone down to Selangor exponents in the respective finals.

“It is a final I will never forget. Selangor had taken five golds and it was up to me to do something for our home fans,” said a jubilant Amir.

“He (Nicholas) had beaten me in the final of an inter-club tournament last year.

“It is great to have avenged that defeat and I am now looking forward to winning a place in the national team and competing in the next SEA Games.”

Selangor won two golds in the men’s section through Ryan Chong, who beat Ding Min Zhuon of Terengganu in the bantamweight (58kg-62kg) division, and Abdul Majid Mohd, who defeated Sabah’s Darrel Jossie in the featherweight (62kg-67kg).

The Selangor girls swept all three golds at stake.

Chong Pek Wah won the welterweight (63kg-67kg) gold medal when she beat Norfaradila Zairy of Sarawak.

Denise Kok Mei Suet downed Nurul Afiqah Harun of Terengganu in the bantamweight (51kg-55kg) final.

In the featherweight (55-59kg) final, Nurul Nadia beat Erni Syazwani of Terengganu to win the gold medal.

Congrats, babe! :D

Flanked by Drew and Sat at Jo's farewell party in February, '08.