May the four-ce be with you! McGowan adds to GBT’s final World medal total
21st November 2022
Rebecca McGowan won her first senior World Championship medal to take GB Taekwondo’s final tally in Mexico to four.
McGowan, whose boyfriend Bradly Sinden claimed silver earlier in the tournament, finished with bronze in the -73kg weight division.
There were bronze medals issued to Jade Jones and Aaliyah Powell too. Three-time world champion, Bianca Walkden, was a late withdrawal from the Championships due to injury.
Host nation Mexico topped the final medal table but only four other countries bettered GB’s total.
“It’s not what I came for,” said Scottish star McGowan after losing to Serbia’s Nadica Bozanic in two straight rounds.
“But it is another step in the right direction towards Paris 2024. Taking my bronze this time but in two week’s time we go for that gold at the World Grand Prix final in Saudi Arabia.”
Olympic 🥈
🆕 World 🥈'Mr Consistent' @tkdbradly gets it done again!
The @GBTaekwondo train keeps on rolling 😤 📸 @worldtaekwondo pic.twitter.com/Kssqwsjp9h
— Team GB (@TeamGB) November 17, 2022
Sinden started favourite to repeat his 2019 golden triumph in Manchester against South Korea’s Doyun Kwon.
Under new rules, matches are decided on rounds won rather than points scored.
So, after losing the opening round, Sinden needed to claim the second to force a third and deciding three minutes of action. Instead, Kwon took the first round 5-4 and the second 10-7 to secure the title.
Sinden, who now has a full set of world medals after bronze in 2017, recovered from the loss of his opening round to beat Iran’s world junior champion, Reza Kalhor, 15-8, 16-11 in the semi-finals.
The 24-year-old also accounted for Ferhat Kavurat of Turkey, Frenchman Theo Lucien and Lazar Dragojevic of Serbia.
Huddersfield prospect Powell maintained her 100 percent World Championship medal success rate.
Twenty-four hours after Jade Jones won bronze at – 57kg, Yorkshire teenager Powell added a second medal at -62kg.
Three years ago in Manchester Powell, then 16, marked her World Championship debut with bronze in Jones’ weight category.
This time she adapted well to her new division, defeating reigning European champion Jone Magdaleno in her opening bout before losing against Belgian Sarah Chaari in the semi-finals.
“Fighting in a heavier weight category felt a bit like going into the unknown but I knew if I was clear with my plan that I would be successful.
“Beating the European Champion early on set me off in the right direction and I was proud of myself for getting a medal but it’s made me hungry for gold.”
Double Olympic champion Jones was bidding to defend the title she won for the first time in Manchester three years ago.
The Headhunter didn’t drop a round as she cruised into the last four to face Chinese rival, Zuo Longshi.
Jones started well, taking the opening round. But her conqueror at last month’s World Grand Prix in Manchester fired back to take her place in the final which she also won to claim gold.
The 2023 World Championships will be held in Azerbaijan next May.