Isle of Man athlete selected for GB taekwondo contest

Nino Ontoy (centre) will represent Great Britain in the November competition

An 18-year-old from the Isle of Man has been selected to represent Great Britain at an international taekwondo competition in Hong Kong.

Nino Ontoy will compete at the 2024 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, a technical, non-combative element of the marshal art comprising a sequence of defence and attacking movements.

He will compete alongside two other British athletes in the under 30 men's individual competition, which will be held on 30 November.

Mr Ontoy said he was "really proud" to be selected and that his ultimate goal would be to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

'Great achievement'

"I want to take every opportunity to develop and improve," he said.

Mr Ontoy took up the sport when he was five and recently won a gold medal at the International Open Poomsae Taekwondo Championships in London.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said it "was a great achievement" and "was very inspiring to see a Manx athlete with his sights on the Olympics in four years time".

"I am sure Nino will represent the Isle of Man and Team GB with great pride," he added.