JAMAICA'S COMBINED Martial Arts Team must finish in the top two to maintain their status as invitees at the August 19 Tri-Asian Championships in Gifu, Japan.

The Combined Team departed on Tuesday for Tokyo to take on the hosts and the Philippines in the championship, which features a martial arts team showdown between the top two Asian countries and a Western invitee.

Captain Jason McKay, who travelled to Tokyo ahead of the team, on Tuesday, said European bookmakers have made Jamaica rank outsiders.

Great honour

Media reports, he added, stated that Jamaica received a great honour to be invited and that is probably as far as their challenge will go.

However, McKay, told The Gleaner that Jamaica will be going all out to prove the bookies and the Japanese media wrong.

"I am in no way here on a vacation," he said. "Without a doubt, we intend to finish in the top two. I cannot fathom anything else happening."

Japan and the Philippines are highly rated in international martial arts whereas Caribbean sensations Jamaica staked their claim over the past two years by defeating major opponents such as the United States in England.

Japan aside, for Jamaica to even finish ahead of the Philippines will be a huge task.

Jamaica have enjoyed an enviable reputation for the past two years but the Asians have maintained outstanding records for several years.

Jamaica's team comprises McKay, Arthur Barrows, Dwayne Brown, Bruce McFarlane Kenneth Edwards, Omar Rose, Sean Cummings as well as juniors Nicholas Dussard and Alrick Wanliss. <