Walkden on top step as GB take six medals in Sofia

Britain's taekwondo stars warmed up for April's European Championships by earning six medals at the Sofia Open.

Three-time world champion Bianca Walkden took gold in the female heavyweight category, just as she had in the last European Open event in November, while Bradly Sinden and Chloe Roberts also occupied the top step of the podium.

Walkden was dominant on her journey to the final, conceding just two points across her two fights, and beat Lorena Brandl 15-8 to secure gold.

World No.2 Sinden defeated Jordan's Zaid Kareem 19-14 in the men's -68kg final having convincingly overcome Dzhordzev Aleksandar (35-24), Lukasz Cudnoch (22-10) and Alian Ali (13-3) earlier in the day.

As for Roberts, this was a first senior gold for the prospect, who became the European Junior Champion in 2019.

Fighting in the -62kg category, Roberts triumphed on a golden point against Djade Lespau in the round of 32 before progressing past Kristina Beros (12-8), Klaudia Tvaronaviciute (2-0) and Serdja Stevic (12-2) to make the final.

Her scheduled opponent forfeited, ensuring Roberts could celebrate a landmark success.

“It’s a good start to the year,” she said. “This is my first senior gold medal, it’s onwards and upwards from here on out.”

Rebecca McGowan had to settle for silver after a minor knock prevented her taking part in the -73kg final.

The Scot had been in superb form, with two comfortable victories before a 5-3 win against London 2012 champion Milica Mandic in the semi-final, which proved McGowan's last fight of the day as injury took hold.

Rounding off the British medal winners were Jade Jones and Maddison Moore, who were beaten semi-finalists in the featherweight and flyweight divisions respectively.

Jones cruised past Inese Tarvida and Arlet Ortiz Benito before losing to Marija Stetic on a golden point in the last four, while Moore went down against Abdelsalam Nour after two victories of her own.

Heavyweight Mahama Cho won his first competitive fight since 2019, beating Dejan Georgievski 23-20, but exited at the quarter-final stage.

Josh Calland also went out in the last eight, with Caden Cunningham, Chris McNeish, Mohammed Nour, Jack Spall, Jonathan Bangura and Sharissa Gannaway unable to progress past the last 16.

The Bulgarian capital will also play host to the European Championships, which take place between April 8-11.