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WILLIAMS-THE WONDER OF WALES

Lauren Williams is on top of the world after retaining her title at the WTF Junior World Championships in Canada.

The 17-year-old Welsh wonder crushed Russian Polina Khan 13-4 in the -68kg final to repeat her success of two years earlier.

Scottish teenager Rebecca McGowan also claimed a podium finish by taking bronze in the +68 weight division.

But it was Williams who takes the plaudits, further underlining her potential as a Tokyo 2020 candidate.

In five contests she dropped only six points, racking up 76 in reply and stopping four of her opponents before full distance.

The Newport youngster, also the reigning senior European champion, has blazed a trail through the junior ranks, achieving feats that even double Olympic gold medallist, Jade Jones, couldn’t manage.

Williams stamped her authority on the final straight from the off with a three-point head shot. However, the Russian successfully appealed and the points were withdrawn for kicking a downed opponent.

Williams simply stepped up her attacks and finished the first round 3-2 in front.

The one-point gap became three at the end of the penultimate round and from 7-4 at the start of round three she pulled away to take the next six points in another brilliant masterclass.

Williams stopped Croatia’s Kristina Cerina in the semi-finals by a 17-2 margin having opened the tournaments with a hat-trick of whitewashes against Roman Torres of Puerto Rico, Norway’s Eliza Haugen and Nian En Cai of Chinese Taipei.

McGowan, a junior medallist at last month’s Galeb Trophy, can consider herself unfortunate not to earn a fight for gold.

The Glaswegian prospect opened up with a 14-4 success over Australia’s Chelsea Hobday and then edged out 2015 Asian Championship bronze medallist Shuwen Lu of China 5-4.

In the quarter-finals, McGowan despatched Ella Borisova of Russia 6-2 before losing 13-11 against eventual silver medallist, Yun Ci Pan of Chinese Taipei.

rebecca-medal

Results:

-68kg Lauren Williams

1st Round: Beat Naishka Roman Torres PUR 15-0 (points gap)

2nd Round: Beat Eliza Frazier Haugen NOR 15-0 (points gap)

QF: Beat Nian En Cai TPE 16-0 (points gap)

SF: Beat Kristina Cerina  CRO 17-2 (points gap)

Final: Beat Polina Khan RUS 13-4

+68kg Rebecca McGowan

1st Round: Beat Chelsea Hobday AUS 14-4

2nd Round: Beat Shuwen LV CHN 5-4

QF: Beat Ella Borisova RUS 6-2

SF: Lost to Yun Ci Pan TPE 11-13

Comments
  • Mandie
    Reply

    Amazing achievement by the girls but also huge respect for all the GB Jnrs that competed at the world’s and did their clubs n country proud. U inspire us to keep training. Josh n Amaya Streetwise

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