Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones will look to kick-start her hunt for the Tokyo title with success on the European stage, having been named as part of a 15-strong squad for next month’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria (April 8-11).
The 27-year-old is bidding to become the first Team GB woman to win three individual golds at three separate Games this summer, having topped the -57kg ranks at both London 2012 and in Rio four years later.
While little under four months remain until the action gets underway in Japan, the Flintshire fighter will first get a chance to add a third European title to her tally, having previously picked up gold in 2016 and 2018.
The continental competition represents the first significant opportunity for GB athletes to gauge their form and fitness in 2021, with the other two major tournaments of the year - the Olympics and October’s World Championships - still to come.
Rio 2016 bronze medallist Bianca Walkden will chase a third European gold in the +73kg weight division, but double Olympic medallist Lutalo Muhammad misses out through injury.
Reigning world champion Bradly Sinden will look to add to a first European title to his global crown in the men’s -68kg category, having won bronze in Kazan, Russia three years ago.
Performance director Gary Hall said: “This is the biggest event of 2021 so far, but we have a unique year ahead with the Olympic Games and World Championships.
“This event carries significant ranking points so athletes and staff are focused on winning as much as possible in terms of silverware, but also to accumulate as many points as possible.
“We have a strong group of selectors and have made the best decisions possible to try and win the best set of medals possible.”
GB squad for Taekwondo European Championships:
Male: -54kg: Joshua Long, -58kg: Mason Yarrow, -63kg: Mohammed Nour, -68kg: Bradly Sinden, -74kg: Christian McNeish, -80kg: Josh Calland, -87kg: Caden Cunningham, +87Kg: Mahama Cho
Female: -49kg: Maddison Moore, -53kg: Jodie McKew, -57kg: Jade Jones, -62kg: Chloe Roberts, -67kg: Lauren Williams, -73 kg: Rebecca McGowan, +73 kg: Bianca Walkden
Sportsbeat 2021