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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2007 77 Lang, Matheson officially named to World Cup squad It came as little surprise, but both Kara Lang and Diana Matheson have been officially named to the Canadian soccer team that will compete in next month's FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Both players have plenty of experience with the national squad, as Matheson has 65 caps to her credit and Lang has 62. Lang, 20, became the youngest person ever to play for Canada's senior team when she took the field as a 15-year-old five years ago against Scotland. The St. Thomas Aquinas grad also plays for the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA. Matheson, 23, has played with the Canadian senior team since the age of 18. An alumnus of White Oaks, she competes collegiately with the Princeton Tigers. Canada will be participating in its fourth FIFA Women's World Cup, having previously qualified for Sweden 1995, USA 1999 and USA 2003. The team had its best-ever showing at USA 2003, finishing fourth, and was ranked ninth on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings two months ago. Canada qualified for this year's FIFA Women's World Cup by reaching the final at last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup in California. The FIFA Women's World Cup is scheduled to begin Sept. 10. Canada's first game will be Sept. 12 versus Norway, to be followed by contests against Ghana and Australia in preliminary-round play. CBC will broadcast Canada's three openinground matches live, along with all elimination games. Diana Matheson Kara Lang Taekwon-Do paying dividends for local teen Rupinder Rai wins four medals at worlds, says sport has built her self-confidence By Jon Kuiperij R ple and I had to speak loud to the students I had to teach. That taught me I can speak in front of my classmates. upinder Rai admits she wasn't Just life-wise, I'm a lot more confithe typical female in her dent now in what I'm doing. I can set younger days. any goal and go through with it." "Every little girl wants to do balRai can point to qualifying for the let, but I got into Taekwon-Do. And I world championships as an example enjoyed every part of it," said the of that. In order to do so, she earned softspoken teen, now a Grade 12 stu- her black belt, worked out extensivedent at Abbey Park High School. "It ly with a punching bag, ran many a was different from what other people mile and did other strength-building do, sports-wise. Sparring became my exercises. favourite because I like At the national chamthe way you fight for your "Just life-wise, pionships in Calgary earwinnings. It's like (liter- I'm a lot more lier this year, Rai won ally) fighting for your confident now in gold in both the junior spot to get to the gold what I'm doing. I female lightweight sparmedal." ring and first-degree patcan set any goal That love for combat tern events, earning a has enriched Rai's life, in and go through spot on the national more ways than one. Not with it." team. only did she recently In England, she achieved a long-time goal Rupinder Rai claimed silver in individby competing at the ual sparring while adding International Taekwon-Do team medals in patterns, sparring Federation world championships in and power-breaking. England, where she earned three silSuch success at the international ver medals and a bronze; she says her level was a surprise for Rai, who was sport has paid dividends in other optimistic about her chances of a aspects of her life as well. podium finish in sparring but wasn't Influenced by her father Parm Rai, sure what to expect in team competia seventh-degree master instructor tion. in Takewon-Do and special assistant "I think we all came together," to ITF president Master Choi Jung she said of her team, which included Hwa, Rupinder makes every effort to several former opponents. "Our live by the tenants of her sport: cour- friendship just grew during training tesy, integrity, perseverance, self con- and we know each other really well trol and indomitable spirit. now." "I always had a fear of public Rai's next major goal, at least in speaking, but Taekwon-Do has Taekwon-Do, will be re-qualifying for taught me to be more confident," she the next world championships. Those said. "Around when I had my red belt, will be held three years from now in we got to teach classes to other peo- Ottawa. BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER KICKING IT: Abbey Park High School student Rupinder Rai recently achived a long-time goal by competing in the International Taekwon-Do Federation world championships in England, where she won four medals.