Cunningham, Powell and GB Taekwondo teammates look to make French connection at Grand Prix
2nd September 2022
Teenager, Aaliyah Powell training at the National Taekwondo Centre.
Yorkshire duo Caden Cunningham and Aliyah Powell face some of the world’s best taekwondo fighters at the inaugural Paris Grand Prix this weekend.
But the Huddersfield pair hope to be back in the French capital in two years’ time for what would be an Olympic Games debut.
For 19-year-old Cunningham, it will be a second Grand Prix appearance after a medal-winning debut in Rome earlier this year.
Powell, also 19 and a World Championship medallist in 2019, joins double Olympic champion, Jade Jones, competing at – 57kg.
“I am excited to be back out on the Grand Prix stage to further test myself against those elite athletes,” said Cunningham who secured bronze with three wins in the Italian capital.
“The medal for my first Grand Prix was great but I start from scratch again now and work from round one once more.
“I have always loved training and competing in France. And I look forward to seeing how the event is organised and to hopefully get an insight into how my first Olympic Games will be managed.”
Powell has already won a brace of silver medals this year and fought at the European Championships in May. But this promises to be her sternest test.
“I am looking forward to my first Grand Prix and the fact it is in Paris makes it even more exciting,” she said.
“I have been to Paris a few times and I want to be back in two years for the Olympic Games.
Caden Cunningham mid fight.
Cunningham and Powell are two of eight athletes competing in Paris while three para stars, Beth Munro, Keira Forsythe and Joe Lane, are also in action in the French capital.
World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue says: “The significance of the Paris Grand Prix cannot be understated.
“This will be the first time that Paris will be hosting the World Taekwondo Grand Prix.
“As host city of the Olympic Games in 2024, it will be the perfect opportunity for Paris to host one of the most exciting events in the World Taekwondo calendar.
“Winners of the Grand Prix will achieve ranking points for qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Furthermore, the new competition rules for a more dynamic and unpredictable Taekwondo competition, which was on trial in the Roma Grand Prix, have generated a lot of excitement and discussions.”
Squad
Male:
-68kg: Bradly Sinden (Doncaster)
+80kg: Caden Cunningham (Huddersfield)
Female:
-49kg: Madison Moore (Blakedown)
– 57kg: Jade Jones (Flint), Aliyah Powell (Huddersfield)
-67kg: Lauren Williams (Blackwood)
+67kg: Rebecca McGowan (Dumbarton), Bianca Walkden (Liverpool)
Para Squad
Male:
-80kg, K44: Joseph Lane (London)
Female:
– 52kg, K 44: Keira Forsythe (Chester)
-65kg, K44: Beth Munro (Liverpool)
