Tokyo Olympics: Bianca Walkden secures consolation bronze medal for Team GB in taekwondo

Bianca Walkden ended the Tokyo Olympics on a positive note after defeating Poland’s Aleksandra Kowalczuk in a bronze medal contest in taekwondo.

Walkden had been among the favourites to secure gold in the +67kg class but had been eliminated in a devastating semi-final loss in the last second to dash her dreams.

However, she bounced back in the bronze medal contest to defeat Kowalczuk 7-3 in a low scoring contest.

Walkden took charge early on with punches that saw her lead 4-2 after the first round, before Kowalczuk set up a tense final round after taking a point in the second.

But Walkden’s No 1 ranking soon showed as she took the final round 3-0 to complete a comfortable victory. 

Following victory, Walkden remained relatively calm, still feeling the disappointment of missing out on gold earlier in the day, a contrast to her opponent who left the mat in tears.

At 29-years-old she will now look towards the Paris Games in three years time as likely being the final chance of landing the Olympic gold medal her career would richly deserve. 

Earlier in the day the three-time world champion led South Korea’s Dabin Lee by two points but a three-point head-kick right on the button gave her opponent a 25-24 win and a place in the final. 

Walkden, who was also edged out in the final in Rio before rallying to claim bronze through the repechage, will see the Games as a missed opportunity to claim gold having largely dominated the +67kg category for much of the past 10 years.

She had started with an efficient 17-7 win over Cansel Deniz of Kazakhstan but faced a tough test against Lee, like Walkden a reigning world champion but in the higher, non-Olympic 73kg category. 

More to follow…