It was gold for Liverpool’s Bianca Walkden at the French International Open, further underlying Britain’s strength in the run up to 2012. The Paris event is one of only a few on the international circuit which replicates the weight categories of the Olympic Games, providing the team with a solid platform as they build towards Korea next May and onto London.

Walken, British Open champion, overcame rival and local favourite, Anne Caroline Graffe, 6-0 in the +67kg final. Speaking after the tournament, Walkden, who has risen to number two in the world, said, “That’s three down and one to go. To win in Paris after getting gold in Beijing and again at the British is fantastic and now I want to finish the year in style by winning in Moscow next month.”

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Related stories:

British women shine at inaugral Jaguar Academy of Sport awards ^[1]

Taekwondo: Three is the magic number as GB win a trio of gold medals ^[2]

Taekwondo: Bianca Walkden claims gold in China ^[3]

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Jade Jone, Youth Olympic gold medallist, battled through to the quarter finals before meeting her match in the experienced Croat, Martina Zubcic. In a fast paced match, Jones put in an impressive performance before going down 15-20.

Gary Hall, Sport Taekwondo UK’s Performance Director, said, “Overall I’m delighted with the team’s performance and the progress that is being made. Bianca’s win shows how confident she is after success earlier in the year. We showed ambition in launching the Fighting Chance programme earlier this year and that decision has been vindicated by the performances here this weekend.”

Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine