7th December 2022

Jade Jones looks to end the year as she started it-with a gold medal- as GB Taekwondo fighters head to Saudi Arabia for their final tournament of 2022.

The double Olympic champion is one of eight athletes competing at the World Grand Prix finals in Riyadh.

And after last month’s World Championship bronze medal, Jones aims to climb the podium again.

“We have fought so many times this year and it is really tough on the body,” said Jones, twice a Grand Prix medallist in 2022, a European bronze medallist and winner of the WT President’s Cup in Albania.

“But I am looking forward to giving it one last push at the GP final because there are lots of big points up for grabs.”

Jones, like the rest of her Manchester trained teammates, has had to adapt to new rule changes imposed by the sport’s world governing body. Fights are now determined on rounds won rather than points scored.

“It has been a challenge,” agreed the 29-year-old Welsh star. “But it has also been fun evolving and implementing a new game plan.

“Hopefully, the rules are set now and we can all focus on improving. My aim is to keep doing what I’m doing because my confidence has been building back up again.

“I am happy with the way things are going so in 2023 I’m looking to push on even more and be in the best shape possible to qualify for the Paris Olympics,” added Jones who won the overall Grand Prix titles in 2014. 2016 and 2017.

Bianca Cook returns to action after injury forced her to withdraw from the recent World Championships in Mexico where she would have chased an unprecedented fourth successive gold medal.

GB Taekwondo’s Paralympic stars, Beth Munro, Amy Truesdale and Joe Lane are in action on day one tomorrow. (Thursday)

Fights Days

December 8:

K44/-65kg: Beth Munro (Liverpool)

K44/+65kg: Amy Truesdale (Chester)

K44/-80kg: Joe Lane (Hounslow)

December 9:

– 57kg: Jade Jones (Flint)

-67kg: Lauren Williams (Blackwood)

+67kg: Bianca Cook (Liverpool)

+67kg: Rebecca McGowan (Dumbarton)

-68kg: Bradly Sinden (Doncaster)