The second day of the European Taekwondo Championships 2022 went to GB with Gold for reigning Champion and World No1 Bianca Walkden, and Beth Munro improving on her Silver from Tokyo 2020 with gold in the K44 Women’s -65kg. Amy Truesdale (K44 Women’s +65kg) and Rebecca McGowen (Women’s -73kg) also secured Bronze medals.

Cheered onto success by a strong home crowd, Walkden said: “It can be hard to keep winning again and again, but after four I can keep going and keep doing it until Paris and then hopefully can finish it all off. One thing that kept me going was the fact Liverpool have the Champions League final next week so I thought I’d start it off and show them how it’s done!”

“Having friends and family here again was actually so nerve wracking, but during the fight it lifted me up. It can be quite overwhelming with a crowd cheering you on with the GB flag but it doesn’t go without saying we wouldn’t be here without the fans so thank you!”

Munro said; “The crowd have been immense and have definitely got me through these matches. Stay focussed and determined at any sport and you can achieve anything – if there’s anyone out there thinking about taking up the sport, definitely take it up.”

This evening also saw the first medal of the championships for Uzbekistan with a win for World No1 and Olympic Champion Naimova in the K44 Women +65kg. Mexico also claimed their first Gold with World No1 and top seed in the K44 Men -70kg Garcia Lopez taking the crown.

Frenchman Ravet successfully defended his European Championship Gold from Sofia 2021, winning the Mens -59kg match in the dying seconds after a closely contended fight against Ireland’s Woolley winning 12:5. “It’s been different to last year, it’s been much better. It’s just so nice for the public to be here with us” Ravet said after his win.

The results of the finals:

Para Male K44-70kg

1^st – GARCIA LOPEZ (MEX)

2^nd – KHALILOV (AZE)

3^rd – KESICKI (POL)

3^rd – NIKOLADZE (GEO)

Para Women K44 -65kg

1^st – MUNRO (GBR)

2^nd – ER (TUR)

3^rd – GJESSING (DEN)

3^rd –  LYPETSKA (UKR)

Para Women K44 +65kg

1^st – NAIMOVA (UZB)

2^nd – SANTIAGO MORENO (ESP)

3^rd – RASIC (SRB)

3^rd –  TRUESDALE (GBR)

OLY Male -58kg

1^st – RAVET(FRA)

2^nd – WOOLLEY (IRL)

3^rd – DELL ‘AQUILA (ITA)

3^rd – VICENTE YUNTA (ESP)

OLY Men -87kg

1^st – SAPINA (CRO)

2^nd – MARTINEZ GARCIA (ESP)

3^rd – BICER (TURK)

3^rd – DIVKOVIC (SLO)

OLY Women -73kg

1^st – LAURIN (FRA)

2^nd –KLEPAC (CRO)

3^rd – MCGOWAN (GBR)

3^rd – BLE (FRA)

OLY Women +73kg

1^st – WALKDEN (GBR)

2^nd – KOWALCZUK (POL)

3^rd –  AVOULETTE (FRA)

3^rd – KUS (TUR)

SAPINA (CRO) said: “I’m very very proud and I’m very emotional. After my World Championship bronze, this is the first time we’ve had an audience. This is the first time I’ve heard my national anthem in a long time and it means a lot.”

-ENDS-

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