Sport :

PROGRESS PLEASES HALL

7th May 2012, 01:33pm

Aaron Cook: Retained his European title

Aaron Cook: Retained his European title

Team GB taekwondo performance director Gary Hall feels the organisation's hard work continues to pay off on the road towards London 2012.

The British squad delivered seven medals at European Championships in Manchester, including three golds and the overall men's team title.

The selectors must now decide upon their final Olympic party in two pre-nominated weight divisions for both men and women, which will be announced at the end of the month.

Aaron Cook, who last year opted to train outside the elite programme in Manchester, retained his under-80kgs title to put himself in the driving seat for London 2012, while Martin Stamper won bronze in the under-68kgs category as did teenager Jade Jones at under 57kgs.

However, there were also successes in non-Olympic weight classes for Michael Harvey, a member of the Beijing squad, at under-63kgs and Lutalo Muhammad in the under-87kgs.

Bianca Walkden had been hoping to give the selectors a further headache by delivering in the under-67kgs, where she continues to deputise for the injured Sarah Stevenson, but lost a controversial quarter-final.

Having seen his elite fighters return four medals at the 2011 World Championships - where 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Stevenson won a second title in Korea - Hall believes everything is on track for Olympic success.

"We have got an exceptional team in Manchester, with a world-class coaching team, and we have seen that with the results at the European Championships because it makes a huge difference over other nations," Hall said.

"Everyone is working really hard and knows what this is all about.

"We have proved at the World Championships last year and here at the Europeans, that all of that hard work and knowledge pays off."

Hall admits he and the selection panel have some hard thinking to do before naming their final Olympic group.

He said: "We have to select the number one and reserve for each category.

"There is still some 80 days ahead for us. We have some hard work to do and in a full contact combat sport, you do sometimes get injuries.

"We have got to make sure both fighters are fit and ready to go for the Olympics."

Stevenson, 29, has put herself back in the frame for the London Games after making a remarkable recovery from a serious knee injury suffered during a training camp earlier this year.

Hall added: "Sarah has been constantly working out all day long, and has done everything we would expect as a full-on professional to be ready for selection.

"The last couple of weeks we have been watching her do her kicking sessions and she is looking really good.

"There is still some combat and contact work to be done, but if you envisage where she thought we she may be, she is way ahead of that."

Videos

    Not such Olympic progress

    Not such Olympic progress

    16-June-2013

    It may be 3 years away, but the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil have some issues to address, most notably the building of the Olympic golf course and budgets.

    Wakeboarding in Olympic contention

    Wakeboarding in Olympic contention

    29-May-2013

    The IOC will meet in St Petersburg to consider 8 sports who are all trying to become Olympics sports in 2020. Wakeboarding is one of those trying to make the cut.

    Brailsford heaps praise on Hoy

    Brailsford heaps praise on Hoy

    18-April-2013

    Sir Dave Brailsford says he can't speak highly enough of Sir Chris Hoy and his career, stating he made Britian proud.

    Sir Chris Hoy retires

    Sir Chris Hoy retires

    18-April-2013

    Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medal-winner, has retired from track cycling.

    Facebook Favourites