September 5, 2023

Amy Truesdale hasn’t many taekwondo boxes left to tick but selection to the 2023 Para World Taekwondo Championships provides the opportunity for a first ever competitive trip to Mexico.

Truesdale is one of five Manchester trained fighters heading to Veracruz for the 10^th staging of the Championships (September 22-24).

The squad also includes Welsh heavyweight Matt Bush who became Britain’s first ever Para World Taekwondo gold medallist four years ago.

The team is completed by Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Beth Munro, Joe Lane, a World silver medallist in 2021, and Keira Forsythe.

Truesdale, however, has been globetrotting since making a World debut in 2009 and is still a major force, highlighted by recent success at the World Grand Prix in Paris.

While this month’s tournament will see a new stamp added to her passport, the Chester fighter is no stranger to the Para Worlds.

In fact, the 33-year-old has competed at every one dating back to the breakthrough debut Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan 14 years ago,

Truesdale has medalled on each occasion except for 2019, winning the title in 2014 and 2017.

Now, Truesdale is in great shape to complete a hat-trick and improve on her bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.

“The disappointment of Tokyo hit me hard,” admitted Truesdale, one of five GB Taekwondo heading to Central America later this month.

“I was in a dark place for a while. But I have come through that now and back to my usual self.”

Her actions show she is as good as her word, beating reigning Paralympic champion and world number one, Guljonoy Naimova of Uzbekistan in the Grand Prix final.

“She is probably my main rival but that’s the second final I’ve beaten her in this year,” said world number two Truesdale.

“I have done a lot of good work in the gym and then implemented it in all my competitions this year.

“We have had a few tournaments back-to-back, so we are in a good place, physically. Hopefully, we can keep that momentum going into the Worlds.”

Battling Bush will be making his first appearance at the Worlds since a historic golden point final win over Russia’s Zainutdin Ataev in 2019.

A cruciate knee ligament injury prevented a Paralympic Games debut in Japan. But he’s back in business now, taking Grand Prix bronze in Paris while Munro added to her burgeoning collection with silver.

GB Taekwondo Para World Championship squad

Male:

-80kg                    Joe Lane

+80kg                   Matt Bush

FEMALE

-52kg                    Keira Forsythe

-65kg                    Beth Munro

+65kg                   Amy Truesdale

Ends..

For more information contact Trevor Baxter (Red and White Media) at trevor@redandwhitesport.co.uk or 07768 846839.

The 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final will be held in Manchester from the December 1-3. This event will be the final qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With only the top 15 world ranked athletes in each Olympic and Paralympic weight category competing, this is an opportunity to see the best of the best compete live on home soil.

For more information or to register for regular updates visit https://www.britishtaekwondo.org.uk/manchester-2023-world-taekwondo-grand-prix-final/