4th September 2018

Rachelle Booth has some unfinished business to attend to when she returns to Moscow tomorrow (Wednesday) for the 2018 Russian Open.

The 2015 World Championship bronze medallist is the only member of the GB Taekwondo squad competing in the Russian capital.

But Rachelle is planning to earn herself a belated 23rd birthday present when she steps back on the mat.

“I was in Russia recently for the latest World Taekwondo Grand Prix,” explained the Wigan fighter who will step up from -57kg to compete at -62kg.

“Hopefully, it will be different this time, as I have trained hard and I am determined to put into practice what I have been doing back in Manchester.

“I haven’t been on the podium as much as I would have liked this year,” added Rachelle, a bronze medallist at the World Taekwondo President’s Cup in Morocco. “But I am confident I am not far off fighting like my old self.

“It will be different, to say the least, being the only member of the team,” added Rachelle who celebrated her birthday on August 31. “But it means I am going to be even more focused on the competition ahead than I usually am.”

*Watch Olympic medallists Jade Jones and Bianca Walkden compete at the Manchester edition of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix, which is back at the Regional Arena from 19-21 October. Tickets are now on sale via http://www.kickingforglory.com