British Taekwondo performance director Gary Hall insists he hasn’t forgotten about last year’s World Championships after naming a strong squad of 14 for next month’s European equivalent in Baku.
Current world No.1 and Olympic champion Jade Jones and London 2012 bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad head up the British team to travel to Azerbaijan for the Europeans, which run from May 1 to 4.
Britain won seven medals at the last European Championships in Manchester with Muhammad taking the -87kg title and Jones bronze while another gold-medal winner in Michael Harvey returns.
Harvey, who represented Britain at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, won -63kg gold in Manchester although at last year’s World Championships in Mexico the team failed to pick up a single medal.
And, after admitting to a tough selection process, London 2012 Olympian Martin Stamper will also fight in Baku, British performance director Hall admits it’s time for the team to return to their best.
“We’re really pleased with the squad that has been selected. But as with every selection we’re going to have to leave some good players at home,” said Hall.
“We didn’t hit our targets and we are looking to put that right. You do think about what happened in Puebla but it is only really an afterthought.
“Everybody in Manchester is working hard for the challenge Azerbaijan will bring. We will go out there knowing we are the best prepared we can be. The Rio Olympics may still be two years away but qualification is hotting up.”
© Sportsbeat 2014