24th November 2020

Bradly Sinden plans to shake-off 11 months of ring rustiness to end the year with a first title since his historic World Championship victory in May 2019.

The Yorkshire star is joined by double Olympic gold medallist, Jade Jones, and triple world title winner, Bianca Walkden as part of an 8-strong GB squad competing at the Open European Club Championships in Croatia.

Sinden, who celebrated his 22nd birthday in September, can’t wait for his return to action in Zagreb on Wednesday.

For him and other leading stars, it begins a countdown to the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo next July.

“It is the longest I have not fought for as long as I can remember so I am raring to go,” said the Doncaster born world number two.

“It is great to finally have a tournament to look forward to after all this time spent training.”

Sinden became the first able-bodied British male to capture a senior world crown when he defeated Spain’s Javier Polo Perez in Manchester last year.

He secured one silver medal and a bronze in subsequent competitions before coming second at the 2019 World Grand Slam in China.

The Croatian hosted event ends months of competitive inactivity for Sinden and his Manchester trained teammates.

He knows though 2021 promises to be plenty “busy” subject to any restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are supposed to have three majors next year: Europeans, Olympics and then the Worlds. So, that will be fun,” he laughed.

“It will be hectic. However, I am looking forward to trying to win more major medals especially after this year when we haven’t fought.

“The Europeans will be a good one to clinch but if I get selected my main title to aim for is the Olympics. That is the title I want.

“Everything from now through to July will be about learning and developing.”

Sinden admits even if picked for GB’s Toyko squad a year later than planned, he will still be ahead of his expected individual development as an athlete.

“2020 was always a goal but more of an optimistic goal,” he explained. “I only joined the Academy in 2016 and 2024 was the Games I was supposed to be fully aiming for.

“So, to win the worlds within three years and potentially having a good chance to win 2020, I would have said you were lying.”

Sinden is Britain’s sole competition in the -68kg category as is Londoner, Jonathan Bangura, who will be fighting at +87kg.

Liverpudlian Walkden and Welsh housemate Jones have previously enjoyed medal-winning performances in 2020.

But Walkden’s heavyweight gold and a -57kg silver for Jones at the World Taekwondo Presidents Cup event in Helsingborg were back in February.

The experienced duo’s teammates include both Maddison Moore and Jordyn Smith fighting under -49kg along with youngster Sharissa Gannaway in the -67kg category and Scot, Rebecca McGowan at -73kg.

Squad:

Male:

-68kg: Bradly Sinden (Doncaster)

+87kg: Jonathan Bangura (Forest Gate)

Female:

-49kg: Maddison Moore (Blakedown), Jordyn Smith (Falkirk)

-57kg: Jade Jones (Flint)

-67kg: Sharissa Gannaway (Southampton)

-73kg: Rebecca McGowan (Dumbarton)

+73kg: Bianca Walkden (Liverpool)

To view the match draws for 24th November, please click here and be sure to watch the action unfold by clicking on the live stream too, here.