18th February 2020

Double Olympic champion Jade Jones OBE and triple world title winner, Bianca Walkden, make their first competitive appearances of 2020 at the President’s Cup event in Sweden.

The pair have already qualified Olympic quota places for Great Britain.

But after a Winter break following silver medals at the World Grand Slam in China last December, the GB Taekwondo duo are looking for match sharpness in the coming months.

The two- day competition in Helsingborg (February 18-19) provides them with the opportunity to return to winning ways and for the rest of the Manchester trained nine-strong squad to also impress.

Scot Rebecca McGowan says: “Just being able to do the training alongside the girls that could potentially be going to the Olympics is so good for me.

“It will push me so much especially as I am able to train with some of the best in the world.”

McGowan, fighting at +73kg, will be looking for her first President’s Cup medal.

“I can’t wait to get back into the ring and practice everything I’ve been working on in training,” said the 19-year-old prospect from Dumbarton.

Her sentiments are echoed by teammate Jack Spall, one of two Brits competing in the heavyweight division.

“The off-season can be hard but we have all pushed through,” said Spall, a gold medallist at last season’s Austrian Open.

“I am sure myself and the team will come out with the rewards we deserve.”

Team:

Men:

-68kg: Christian McNeish (Plaistow)

-74kg: Josh Calland (Liverpool)

+87kg: Jonathan Bangura (Forest Gate), Jack Spall (Attleborough)

Women:

-49kg: Maddison Moore (Blakedown)

-57kg: Jade Jones (Flint)

-62kg: Chloe Roberts (Stoke)

+73kg: Rebecca McGowan (Dumbarton) +73kg: Bianca Walkden (Liverpool)