Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

JAMAICAN teenagers Shamar Gordon and Asheika Dyer are among the island's main junior hopefuls to strike gold at the May 1-4 International Tae kwon do Federation (ITF) Pan-Am Games in Florianopolis, Santa Catrina, Brazil.

Gordon, a 15-year-old Kingston College student, is eyeing former junior Nicholas Dussard's record of a double gold, won at the 2004 games in Paraguay.

Along with Calabar's Oshane Murray, Gordon is top-rated as a junior coloured belt. The Kingston College fourth-former holds a US Open gold medal in continuous sparring, won last summer in Orlando.

The competition between Gordon and Murray, who attends Calabar High, was heightened during the high schools division of the recent Busta Jamaica Tae kwon do Open, which Calabar won, defeating Kingston College.

However, they will both be carrying Jamaica's flag while pursuing individual medals in Brazil.

Dyer, at age 14, is already a junior veteran, representing Jamaica since she was 10. The muscular teenager won tae kwon do gold at the World Cup in 2004 in Orlando and at the US Open last year.

A tough contender, Dyer is known for her strength and recently incorporated speed to her arsenal.

Tae kwon do veteran, Jason McKay, who will be travelling as coach of the junior team, has high hopes for Dyer.

"It will be the first Pan-Am Games for these juniors, but I am extremely confident of Dyer's chances," he said.

"Of all the coloured belts coach, she has the best chance of striking gold," he added.