With hopes of winning a gold medal, another Oahu resident will be heading to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Anju Jason will be competing in Tae-kwon-do.

Practicing tae-kwon-do is not the only way this 20-year-old keeps busy.

He also works as a chef at Panda Express.

"It is a good news for us have this kind of employee work for Panda Express and we feel so just exciting," says John Zhang, Panda Express area manager.

"Good luck and bring us some medals (laughs) and we're so proud of him," says Gen Coloma, Panda Express General Manager.

As a young kid, Jason grew up watching the Olympics and its been his dream to compete.

"It was always fun and exciting just the atmosphere and I really want to medal cause I really want to do good in this tournament," says Anju Jason, local olympian.

But news of Jason competing in the Olympics stayed low-key until a co-worker's son who practices with Anju told his Mom about him qualifying.

"I'm not one to just show off like I did something I just let it slide then when they do find out I don't usually tell anybody," says Jason.

After working his full-time job at Panda Express, Anju comes here to practice tae-kwon do. He practices up to five times a week.

A sport he has practiced for more than a decade, his Coach says he is the underdog.

"He really has not the privilege of competing internationally at the world championships at other high level events a lot of his competitors if not all of them have already done in this event," says Brian McCutcheon, Jason's Coach.

"I think we have some different ways of doing things in the fight and we have some clever things that we are going to try and see what happens," says McCutcheon.

"If no medal this time there could be maybe 2012 if I still stay with it," says Jason.

Jason will be representing the Marshall Islands team and leaves next month.

Vanessa may be reached at vstewart @khon2.com or ph. 591-4209.