Taekwondo: GB names squad for European Championships

March 29, 2012

GB Taekwondo has named a strong squad of 15 for the upcoming European Taekwondo Championships held May 3 – 6 at Manchester’s Regional Arena.

Great Britain will be well represented in what is the last major ranking event before London 2012.

GB Performance Director Gary Hall said: “It’s not been easy making these decisions. These guys work every single day of their lives to get on GB squads and give medal winning performances.

“However, selection needs to be made on the best information you have got available. We did deliberate long and hard about some of the categories and we have managed to put together a really strong team.

“We’re hoping to better the medal tally from the last European Championships. It’s going to be a good field but we have been able to select some world class players.

“And being able to compete in front of a home crowd is great before we go into the Olympic Games. With partisan support behind the team who knows what is possible?”

The European Championships is the last of five ‘selection tournaments’ for Great Britain with the team for London 2012 due to be announced at the end of May.

GB’s Jade Jones, (pictured against Yuzhuo Hou of China), is desperate to get back on the mats after being named amongst the seven strong female squad.

The Welsh star couldn’t add to her medal collection at the recent Dutch Open due to injury, but she’s keen to make up lost time and improve her European debut performance in St Petersburg two years ago.

“I had a small groin tear that kept me out of Eindhoven,” said the 19 year old London 2012 hopeful. “I could have gone if I’d wanted but I didn’t want to make the injury worse. But I didn’t enjoy seeing the rest of the team go out there without me.

“So, I am buzzing and even more hungry because I missed out.”

Jones was 17 when she collected bronze in Russia at the last Euros. And with home advantage at the Regional Arena, Sportcity, the 2011 world championship silver medallist is looking to climb the podium.

“Last time I was sent out to get some preparation for the Youth Olympics so it was a shock to come back with bronze. But with my extra experience I’m looking to get gold in Manchester.”

Full female squad:

Jemma Johnson: -46kg
Caroline Fisher: -53kg
Jade Jones: -57kg
Sophie Dickson: -62kg
Bianca Walkden: -67kg
Stella Whitehead: -73kg
Stephanie Allen: +73kg

Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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Taekwondo: GB names squad for European Championships

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