Senior World Championship Bronze for Boston Kickboxer

Nesta Baxter and Chelsea Leggatt who fight out of Evolution Martial Arts in Boston, Lincolnshire represented Team Great Britain at the WAKO Kickboxing Senior World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. Nesta Baxter finished the competition with an impressive Bronze Medal at the highest level of the sport of kickboxing, placing her third in the world in her category after a brilliant experience. Chelsea Leggatt also fought well to take a quarter final exit at the top level of kickboxing.

Nesta Baxter and Chelsea Leggatt at the Kickboxing Senior World Championships

The 22nd WAKO Kickboxing Senior World Championships were held over the week from the 20th of October to the 27th of October at the Zetra Olympic Hall in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. After a tough selection process to be able to represent Team GB, both Boston girls took the opportunity with both hands and enjoyed it throughout as an amazing experience. For both Chelsea and Nesta this was their first call up for the national team as Seniors after recently moving up from the Junior divisions where they were both established fighters, Chelsea a Junior World Champion and Nesta a Junior European Champion. The athletes fighting in these championships were the best of the best as each country only has one entrant per category so all fights are against the country’s best.

Nesta Baxter who is 19 years old competed in the Senior Female -60kg Light Continuous Kickboxing Category. In the preliminary rounds, Nesta fought against a strong German athlete in which Nesta dominated throughout to finish with a unanimous division in her favour to put her through to the quarter finals. In the quarter finals, Nesta met an opponent well known to her, an Italian who finished in silver position at last year’s Senior European Championships. The fight was close but Nesta fought very well to secure the win and to be able to progress through to the Semi Finals. In the Semi Finals, Nesta came up against a Hungarian fighter who Nesta has recently fought at the EUSA University Games in August and won the Senior European Title last year in a higher weight class. This time Nesta went forward with a strong game plan which she stuck to throughout, the fight was very intense with Nesta winning the first two rounds. However it was the Hungarian who just secured the win by a narrow margin of two points within the last round and progressed to the final and eventually on to win the category. Nesta finished up the competition with a well earned Bronze Medal after some of the best fighting that Nesta has ever displayed pushing well established senior adult fighters right until the final second of the round at her first ever Senior Kickboxing World Championships at such a young age.

Nesta Baxter in Bronze Place position at the Senior Kickboxing World Championships

Chelsea Leggatt who is also 19 years old competed in the Senior Female +70kg Light Continuous Kickboxing category. In the quarter finals, Chelsea fought against a very good German fighter. The fight was intense with Chelsea fighting with a lot of heart and pushing the much taller German all the way through the rounds. However, it was the German competitor who progressed through to the Semi Finals and eventually went on to win the Silver position. Chelsea never gave up throughout her fighting and had a great experience in the category at her first senior world championships. At the opening ceremony, Chelsea was also selected by the National GB Coaches to be one of the Flag Bearers. This was an amazing opportunity for Chelsea to represent her country in the opening ceremony along with two other GB Teammates.

Chelsea Leggatt flying the flag for her country

The future is looking bright for both of these young athletes in their venture as Senior Kickboxing Athletes. They are both already looking forward to the upcoming season next year both nationally and internationally so they can continue to make a name for themselves at the senior level.

Both Nesta Baxter and Chelsea Leggatt are proud to train and fight for Evolution Martial Arts in Boston, Lincolnshire and to represent their country at the highest level of Kickboxing. Nesta and Chelsea would like to thank everyone who has supported them on their journey especially members from Evolution Martial Arts and coaches Linda and Nigel. If you would like to get involved in Kickboxing, MMA or Fitness training find more information on our Facebook page or call Linda on 07716510792.

Nesta Baxter and Chelsea Leggatt with Evolution Martial Arts coaches Nigel and Linda Baxter