Taekwondo: World champion Bianca Walkden reclaims European title after opponent withdraws

Bianca WalkdenGetty Images

Walkden claimed her third world title in Manchester in 2019

By Nick Hope
BBC Olympic sports reporter

World taekwondo champion Bianca Walkden reclaimed her European crown after her opponent withdrew from the heavyweight final because of injury.

Walkden won her first two fights in Bulgaria, including a commanding 19-2 victory over Marlene Jahl of Austria in the +73kg semi-finals.

Poland's Aleksandra Kowalczuk, who beat Walkden in the final three years ago, sustained a foot injury during her last-four victory and withdrew less than a minute into the final which the Briton led 1-0.

"It was an easier day than I expected but it's great to be a three-time world champion and now a three-time European champion," Walkden told BBC Sport. "Now I need to add that Olympic title to my collection in Tokyo."

Team-mate Rebecca McGowan won her maiden European title with victory in the -73kg division.

The 20-year-old Scottish fighter, who is likely to be Walkden's understudy for the women's Olympic heavyweight division this summer, looked strong on her way to the European final where she impressively defeated London Olympic champion Milica Mandic of Serbia 20-14.

McGowan added: "It just feels unreal to have been and done it and it's such an unreal feeling."

"I see how hard Bianca and Jade [Jones] train every day pushes me so much to match their level of taekwondo and I'm ecstatic how today went."

It took GB Taekwondo's medal haul to five for the event, after Jade Jones' -57kg victory on Friday and silver medals for Bradly Sinden (-68kg) and Lauren Williams (-67kg).

"I am really proud of myself for getting this far and for what I have achieved," said Williams, who has endured three injury-hit years since her breakthrough season in 2018.

"My preparation was far from ideal but I still made the final and got major experience again under my belt."

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