SPORT AJNOCTOBER 5, 2018TISHREI 26, 5779 31

AARON FETTER

YOUNG cricketers and their fam-ilies flocked to Caulfield Park on Sunday for a memorable morning with Michael Klinger.

The Australian T20 represent-ative and state cricket champion returned to his junior club Maccabi AJAX, where it all began almost 30 years ago.

“It’s good to give back a lit-tle bit after playing for 20 years. The Jewish community has been so supportive of me,” Klinger told The AJN.

He helped run drills, told stories of his remarkable career, before jumping in the nets to face his adoring fans.

“It’s a really nice set-up here at Caulfield Park now and the kids look really enthusiastic and are hav-ing a great time.”

A prodigious junior talent, Klinger recalled some fond memo-ries of his playing days with Maccabi.

“Some of the friends I made play-

ing junior cricket at AJAX Maccabi are still my best friends today. I’ve got some great memories, we won a couple of premierships which was pretty cool.”

For the best part of two dec-ades, Klinger’s cricketing commit-ments didn’t allow for more than a few days back in his home state of Victoria, but after announcing his retirement from first-class and one-day cricket earlier this year, the 38-year-old and his family have enjoyed two weeks in Melbourne.

“It’s been really nice to relax a bit more and spend some time with family and friends.”

Moving back to Melbourne is in the pipeline, but Klinger and his family are currently settled in Perth.

“Perth’s a great place to live, we really love the community there. We’ll see what happens, a bit might depend work wise post-cricket. Melbourne will always be home for us, it just depends when we decide to come back.”

Klinger also opened up about his wife’s cancer battle and pro-vided a positive update.

“Cindy’s going really well, her treatment was pretty successful. She has ongoing treatment every few weeks to maintain everything, but most importantly her lifestyle is back to normal. She’s going to gym twice a week, Pilates ... up until a few months ago she was unable to

lift anything for approximately six months ... but now she’s looking and feeling really good.”

Klinger’s cricket itinerary mov-ing forward will see him play white ball cricket for his WA club Mount Lawley and potentially a T20 tour-nament or two in Dubai leading up to another Big Bash season with the Perth Scorchers.

“I’m back again, I’m really look-

ing forward to play again which is a good sign; when you’re excited to play it means you’ve still got that competitive edge,” Klinger said.

“Every time I go into a Big Bash tournament I want to be the best player in the competition so that’s certainly what I’m going to be aim-ing to do again this year.”

He’ll also return to England next year to continue his T20 play-ing duties with Gloucestershire, but also to contribute in an official spe-cialist coaching capacity.

But admittedly after 20 years as a professional cricketer, Klinger is looking forward to spending more time at home.

“I’m more than happy to be at home and do the school drop-offs and pick-ups, after-school sports which I haven’t really been able to do for a long time.”

As for life after cricket, Klinger has already started laying down the foundations with his particular interest and expertise in the sport business field.

Michael Klinger made a happy return to his junior club. Photo: Peter Haskin

AJN STAFF

WHEN Jessica Fox won two world championships in Brazil on the weekend she became the most successful individual paddler in history.

The Jewish athlete from Sydney won the C1 class world champion-ship for the fourth time and the K1 title for the third time.

“It’s been the perfect season, the perfect world championships, I’m absolutely thrilled,” Fox said.

“This is an emotional win and it’s been a massive weekend and a massive year.”

Fox’s two world championships bring her career total to nine, which saw her leapfrog her mother Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, who was previously the most successful female athlete, and her father Richard Fox, who was the most successful athlete of all time.

“Growing up with two parents who were very successful in the

sport was always pretty daunting.“I never thought I would be

able to beat dad’s record or achieve what mum achieved.

“To beat them is very cool, very special but it’s as much their achievement as mine.”

Fox said that she trains hard year-round, but it isn’t until an

event like the world champion-ships when she can win back-to-back titles in the same class that it really shows.

“Part of it I think is great preparation and part of it is a little bit of luck, and you’ve got to have that on your side sometimes.

“I think I created my luck as well. I have worked hard and I push myself every day, so to have this as a reward is the icing on the cake.”

Twenty-four-year-old Fox won a silver medal in the K1 event at the 2012 London Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The only thing left for her to achieve is the elusive gold medal, but she will have her opportunity at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

While Fox is again expected to compete in the K1 event, for the first time the women’s C1 event has been included in the program.

Jessica Fox Photo: Paddle Australia / Bence Vekassy

CRICKET

Klinger talks past, present and future

CANOE SLALOM

The greatest Fox of all

THE Tockar brothers, Anthony (second from right) and David (second from left), took home gold medals at the Australian National Kyokushin Karate Tournament in Brisbane late last month.

Kyokushin karate is the only full-contact form of karate, which allows full contact kicks to the legs, body and head, and full-contact punches and strikes to the body. It is an exclusive form of karate, and one which the Tockar boys have been competing in for several years.

“It’s the third time that I’ve won the tournament, but I didn’t expect to this year because my training hasn’t been as I would have liked,” Anthony told The AJN.

Anthony Tockar won the Adult Elite Heavyweight Kumite division against fighters from across Australia and New Zealand.

His younger bother David similarly defeated competitors from across the Tasman to claim the Adult Elite Middleweight Kumite championship.

The winners of all divisions then faces off to be named Yokuzuna (grand champion), where Anthony beat David in the final.

Anthony explained that by the time the pair fought each other they were battered and bruised from previous encounters.

“I think it wasn’t a lot of fun for my dad to see us fight each other, but for me it was fine and it was good sibling rivalry.”

KARATE

Brothers do battle on national stage

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Come along and try it out

Melbourne StarsPromos & Activities

Caulfield Park

Balaclava Road

Caulfield North

(next to the

pavillion)

Sunday 7 October 2018 10am-11am

All school

aged girls

welcome!

Have fun & learn new skills!Make new friends