Liverpool teenager Josh Calland endured a frustrating debut as the WTF World Championships got underway in Russia today.

The 16-year-old from Netherley, the youngest member of Great Britain’s 13-strong squad in Chelyabinsk, was involved in an explosive, high scoring -58kg contest with home favourite, Rusland Poiseev.

And a first round walkover against Jordanian Mohammad Rumman left Calland short of match practice for his show down against his Russian rival.

But the Manchester trained prospect showed few signs of nerves on his entry into big time taekwondo against an opponent 12 years his senior.

Poiseev, a European Championship bronze medallist in Baku last year, shaded the opening round 5-4. He then took command in the second with a series of punches and body shots.

Calland, who only became a full-time member of the GB Academy in late 2014, wasn’t finished.Facing a five point deficit at the start of the final round, he took the fight to the former World Student Games silver medallist and number four seed.

Calland struck two smart head shots and appealed in vain for a third as he closed the gap. But Poiseev had just enough left in the tank to run out a 15-12 victor. “I gave it my best shot but unfortunately the fight just didn’t go my way,” said the GB starlet.

“I had a great third round but just left myself with a little too much to do. However, I really enjoyed the experience. It’s unlike anything I’ve been involved with before.

“I’ve just got to get back home now, train hard and hope for a better result next time.”

Team mates Andrew Deer and Charlie Maddock make their own first World Championship appearances tomorrow. (Tuesday). However, 19-year-old Maddock from Stoke on Trent is no stranger to such stages after winning seven junior global kick boxing titles.

She added three titles at WTF taekwondo last year, including Commonwealth gold in Edinburgh, and has added more medals in 2015 with bronzes from the Luxor and Spanish Opens.

“My season has gone well so far but I’ve learnt a lot this year,” she confirmed. “But this will easily be my biggest test.”

Live streaming of the Championships can be obtained by following this link: http://www.worldtaekwondofederation.net/world-championships-2015-chelyabinsk-live-streaming

GB SQUAD

Schedule (+4 hour time difference in Chelyabinsk)

MEN:

May 12: -58kg Josh Calland (Liverpool)
May 13: -74kg Andrew Deer (Tamworth)
May 14: -68kg Ruebyn Richards (Nottingham)
May 15: -54 Max Cater (Southampton)
May 16: +87kg Mahama Cho (Stockwell)
May 17: -63kg Jordan Gayle (Manchester)
May 18: -80kg Damon Sansum (Elgin)

WOMEN:

May 13: -48kg: Charlie Maddock (Stoke on Trent)
May 15: -53kg Georgia Barnes (Southampton); +73kg Bianca Walkden (Liverpool)
May 16: -73kg Jade Slavin (Consett)
May 17: -57kg Jade Jones (Flint)
May 18: -62kg Rachelle Booth (Wigan)