6th September 2018

GB Taekwondo’s World Class Performance Programme will be welcoming two athletes into the fold.

Both Kyla Julien and Josh Calland will begin full-time training immediately at the National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester.

Hailing from Huddersfield, Julien of Premier Taekwondo will be fighting in the -57kg weight division, a category that includes two-time Olympic Champion, Jade Jones and 2015 World Championship bronze medallist, Rachelle Booth amongst others.

The teenager is no stranger when it comes to the Taekwondo circuit, as she has been a longstanding member of the Sport England funded Development Programme and has most notably medalled at the Dutch, Luxembourg and Paris Open’s, along with the President’s Cup in 2016.

Eager to get started, she said: “It came as a bit of a shock and I wasn’t expecting it at all, to be honest.”

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, nonetheless and can’t wait to get going! I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

As for Calland (of Liverpool Elite), he is the third athlete in GB Taekwondo history to make a comeback into the set-up and will be competing in the -68kg weight class, alongside reigning European Champion, Christian McNeish and World & European Championship bronze medallist, Bradly Sinden.

Speaking on his return, the Liverpool-born athlete said: “I’m extremely happy to be back in full-time training on the programme, after my time out.”

“I’ve worked really hard and proved that I deserve to be amongst the best of the best Taekwondo fighters in the world.”

*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