Meriden student, Doris Xia’s, reputation is steadily growing within the taekwondo community after competing at a high level and achieving remarkable success over the past two years. Her impressive medal tally includes four gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Recently, at the Oceania World Taekwondo Australian Open Championships, she secured a bronze medal in the fiercely competitive Individual Female 59-Kilogram section.
The Year 10 student made her debut in taekwondo competitions at the age of eleven, and since then, she has consistently demonstrated her prowess in state and national events. Doris balances her school commitments with her advanced training regime, dedicating up to four days a week to her practice. Her passion for the sport is fuelled by the satisfaction she gains from observing her personal progress.
“Taekwondo enables me to improve myself not only physically but also mentally. Competing has taught me how to persevere and not give up until the last second. I am very grateful for the growth that taekwondo has brought me,” said Doris.
Preparing for each competition requires a systematic training plan and expert guidance to ensure she showcases her best possible physical condition and competitive technical skills. Doris’s coaches provide her with meticulous pre-match preparation, in-match coaching and after-match analysis. Her training sessions typically span around two hours and encompass daily exercises, training drills and flexibility training.
In 2021, she achieved outstanding success at various tournaments, securing gold medals at the Budo South Invitation Tournament and the Nzuta Open Taekwondo Championship. Additionally, she proudly earned a gold medal at the Taekwondo New Zealand National Championship and the World Taekwondo Tahiti Open, as well as a silver medal at the World Taekwondo President Cup. Her first competition in Australia, the Sydney Taekwondo Festival, earned her a well-deserved bronze medal.
Looking ahead, Doris aspires to compete for the Australian Taekwondo Team and dreams of participating in the Australian Olympic training program. However, she acknowledges the importance of striking a balance between her academic studies and athletic pursuits.
“I hope to represent Australia in more international-level competitions. At the same time, I hope to continue to balance study and training to achieve excellent academic results while fulfilling my taekwondo dream,” said Doris.
The Meriden community wishes Doris all the best as she continues on her sporting journey. With her determination and talent, there is no doubt she will continue to shine both on the taekwondo mat and in her academic pursuits.
