By Hannah Blackwell
Jade Jones has recorded a confidence-boosting title win ahead of the World Taekwondo Championships starting in Baku, Azerbaijan at the end of the month.
Wales’ two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world champion struck individual gold for Great Britain at the European Clubs’ Championship in Bulgaria.
Jones, 30, who won her previous world title in Manchester three years ago, gained Euro honours with victory over Poland’s Patrycja Adamkiewicz.
“It was great to get lots of fights in,” said the double Olympic gold medalist from 2012 and 2016.
“It was excellent practice for the World Championships.
“Obviously, I am also looking to qualify for the Olympics which would be my fourth Games. I am super excited, training really hard and looking forward to seeing what can happen.”
Team GB's Jade Jones will collect her OBE at Windsor Castle later.
Jade, who is from Denbighshire, won gold in the Taekwondo at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.#HeartNews pic.twitter.com/yCydePgIP5
— LBC News Wales (@LBCNewsWales) January 31, 2023
Fellow former world champion Bianca Cook also took gold in Bulgaria.
Three-time world champion Cook defeated Fatima-Ezzahra Aboufaras of Morocco in the final of the +73kg division.
“It is nice to get some ring time in the bank,” said Liverpudlian Cook.
“It is good practice for the World Championship and more ranking points for Paris (Olympics). Step by step, hopefully, I can get better and better.”
Casually bumping into Taekwondo royalty & double Olympic champion Jade Jones 💥
Great day for Connor – more pictures and videos to follow! pic.twitter.com/v6NF14GLX4
— Taekwondo Cymru 🏴 (@TaekwondoCymru) March 13, 2023
Also finishing on top of the podium was Afghanistan-born, Tokyo Olympian Farzad Mansouri who has trained with the Manchester-based GB squad since early last year.
Mansouri, 21, competing as a refugee athlete, triumphed over Turkey’s Ferhat Muhammet Saroglu at -80kg. He too will also compete in Azerbaijan with his refugee status.
Read more about Jade Jones