A three-time world kickboxing champion from Llanelli is calling on local businesses to sponsor her career — after revealing she has been raffling prizes and bag-packing in supermarkets to raise money for international tournaments.
Dr Tennessee Randall, 28, has won world titles, two European championships, and held an unbeaten international record for five years — but says a lack of consistent backing is now limiting her ability to compete at the highest level.
“Everything we do, we fund ourselves — travel, accommodation, entry fees,” she said. “We were raffling and bag-packing in supermarkets to raise money for my most recent overseas tournament.”
Her latest world title came in Abu Dhabi last November, where she won the under-65kg full-contact category. She also held an unbeaten international record between 2018 and 2023 in the under-56kg division.
“I don’t know when my next tournament is because I don’t know what I can afford,” she said. “If I had more support, I could compete more, stay active, and keep improving. There’s so much more I want to achieve to further put my local area and Wales on the map.”
Randall’s journey in the sport began at the age of seven, when her parents encouraged her to take up kickboxing following bullying at school. She progressed through local clubs before joining Xandao Kickboxing, where she was identified as a potential international competitor — and won her first world title at the age of 12.
She has since competed in approximately 1,000 bouts and has twice been named Llanelli Sportsperson of the Year at the Brin Isaac Memorial Awards. She is targeting a third win — which would equal the record held by rugby legend Phil Bennett, who alongside 1979 world snooker champion Terry Griffiths is among Llanelli’s most celebrated sporting figures.
Alongside her sporting career, Randall has earned a doctorate in psychology from Swansea University and works as a research associate while also coaching fitness and kickboxing classes locally.
She has received some support from equipment brand Top Ten but says consistent sponsorship has been hard to come by despite her record at world level.
Looking ahead, Randall has her sights set on competitions in Uzbekistan, North Macedonia and Istanbul. “These are the tournaments where you fight the best of the best,” she said. “That’s what I want — to keep pushing myself.”
Businesses interested in supporting Randall’s campaign can get in touch via her social media channels.
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