UK Sport

British team confirmed for British International Taekwondo Championships

Sarah Stevenson
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BTCB 02 September 2010

Following the best ever showing from the British National Team at the recent European Taekwondo Championships, the country’s top athletes are preparing to take on the world’s best at the British International Championships in Manchester on 25 & 26 September.

Nineteen year-old prodigy, Aaron Cook, and Olympic bronze medallist, Sarah Stevenson, currently hold the World No.1 accolade in their respective weight categories and will lead a strong national team including newly crowned Youth Olympic Games Champion, Jade Jones.

The event has been buoyed by its strongest ever international entry and will see teams compete from some of the world’s strongest nations, including: Australia, China, Germany, Greece, Iran, Jordan, Korea and Russia.

Gary Hall, Performance Director of BTCB – Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd, commented: “We will have a really strong British contingent at the Championships, including our top national team athletes, and with the standard of international competitors that we are expecting in Manchester, it is vital for us in challenging for the podium.

“I’m expecting the atmosphere to be electric as it has been in past years and it is a great chance for North West martial arts fans to see some of their top Olympic medal prospects on the road to London 2012.”

Full Great British National Team:
Aaron Cook -80kg
Bianca Walkden +73kg
Jade Jones -57kg
Jordan Gayle -68kg
Mahama Cho +87kg
Martin Stamper -68kg
Michael Harvey -68kg
Sarah Stevenson -67kg
Tony Grisman -68kg

The British International Championships will be staged in Manchester for the third time this month and features the best British athletes competing against the top talent from around the world.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "With the world class facilities that the city has to offer, we are pleased to continue our relationship with elite sports events such as the British International Taekwondo Championships. We welcome all of the athletes to our city and hope that they are looking forward to the competition as much as we are!”

UK Sport, the nation’s elite sports agency, is backing the event for the third year in a row via their National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme.
Rebecca Edser, Events Consultant at UK Sport, said: “The British International Taekwondo Championships continues to go from strength to strength and UK Sport is delighted that this year will provide the best international entry to date as we get ever closer to London 2012.

“This will provide crucial home soil competition experience for our top athletes, who have made great progress on the world stage this year, as well as a chance to hone the skills of volunteers and officials.”

Tickets are now on sale, and for the first time ever it is possible to book one of a limited allocation of ‘Priority A’ status seats, which offer spectators the premium seating closest to the main finals ring. Tickets can be purchased through the official online retailer www.quaytickets.com or by calling the ticket line on 0843 208 0500.