Olympic hopeful Jade Jones targets British Open crown

Jade Jones (left) won gold at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore

Welsh Olympic hopeful Jade Jones hopes to maintain her strong start to her London 2012 preparations at the British Open in Manchester this weekend.

The 18-year-old taekwondo fighter won 2010 Youth Olympic Games gold and claimed silver at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea.

Now the Flint-born youngster wants to impress on British soil ahead of 2012.

"It is going to be a hard competition. I am just looking forward to seeing what I can do," said Jones.

"I like to think I am a bit of an animal - I am 100% determined, go straight at them and don't give up.

"I have just got to keep pushing that extra bit more because of the experience the others have got on me."

Taekwondo became an official medal Olympic sport in 2000 and will include four weight divisions for both men and women at London 2012.

Jones thinks that with the sports increasing reputation there will be added pressure on the GB team at the Olympics.

"Taekwondo is the up-and-coming sport now," said Jones.

"So people are expecting big things of us next year.

"All of us are excited to see what we can do in 2012, hopefully coming back with a load of medals."

In the driving seat for the under-57kg berth, Jones believes events such as the British Open will help her 2012 preparation.

"In a way being in pole position is taking pressure off me," said Jones.

"Because now I can concentrate on using the events to try out new things so in the end my performance will be 100 percent by the time we get to London."