SCOTTISH teenager Asia Bailey has won Great Britain's first medal at the European Taekwondo Championships in Azerbaijan.
The 16-year-old from Larbert, the youngest competitor in the Championships, enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals of the -46kg weight division until losing in a closely-fought contest to Ukraine's Iryna Romoldanova in Baku.
On the way to the semis she achieved a great first-round 6-3 victory over reigning European champion Ioanna Koutsou of Greece, 11 years her senior.
Bailey, a 2012 World Junior bronze medallist, said: "I was disappointed because I came so close to the final where I believe I could have won gold. But now that I've reflected on my performance I'm very happy that I got the bronze medal.
"I receive great support both from my GB taekwondo coaches and my parents which has taken me to where I am today, and I am very grateful for that."
Asia's Dad is Taekwondo Seventh Dan David Bailey, and he said: "Asia's career got off to a flying start and she was making a real name for herself on the international circuit until she suffered a serious injury which required knee surgery. As her Dad I have witnessed how hard she has worked to get back to winning ways.
"A European bronze at just 16 is incredible and she beat some of the world's best to get it. I'm very proud of her and I'm looking forward to seeing her accumulating Olympic ranking points."
Picture shows Asia on the Baku podium with the other medallists.
Links
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/taekwondo/27247242
http://www.gbtaekwondo.co.uk/ASIA-MAJOR-WINS-FIRST-GB-MEDAL-AT-EUROPEAN-CHAMPIONSHIPS-news-325.html