It's official; Larbert's Asia Bailey is now a national rising star!

The hugely talented fifteen-year-old - Scotland's first-ever taekwondo athlete to win a medal at a World Championships – has been selected to become a Jaguar Rising Star in the luxury carmaker's Academy of Sport Mentoring and Education Programme.

And Asia is just back from a Jaguar Talent Day in Coventry's Ricoh Arena where she impressed some sporting superstars, including Rio Ferdinand, Denise Lewis and Dame Kelly Holmes, with her taekwondo skills.

Along with other young rising stars of tomorrow, Asia picked up invaluable advice from these great sporting legends who have already made it to the top of their respective games.

Former England football captain Rio Ferdinand, one of the Academy's Ambassadors, said: "The Academy rising stars are a hugely talented group of young people and it's obvious to me that there are future champions here today."

Olympic taekwondo gold medal winner Jade Jones also took part in the workshops. Jade, a former Jaguar rising star herself and now an Ambassador, worked with Asia, tutoring her on taekwondo techniques and speaking about how to prepare mentally for high-pressure competitions.

Jade said: "I'm always delighted to be invited to the Academy workshops. Not so long ago I was in their position taking on all the advice of the Ambassadors and now I'm honored to be able to share my advice to help all the rising stars on the road to success."

Other Jaguar Patrons and Ambassadors include Jessica Ennis, Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Steve Redgrave, Jonny Wilkinson, Colin Jackson and Katherine Grainger.

Asia, who was recently signed up to the GB World Class Programme at the Olympic Taekwondo Academy in Manchester, said: "It was a fantastic experience to meet these great athletes. They've inspired me to keep working hard towards achieving my twin ambitions - becoming a taekwondo World Champion and winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games."

Asia has trained since the age of four with Falkirk's Central Taekwondo Academy, which is run by Asia's Dad, Seventh Dan David Bailey. Proud Dad David said "The Jaguar Academy gives Asia the opportunity to get tips and advice from some of Great Britain's most successful athletes. It is exciting to think what she may achieve in the future given all this expert support".

Pictures show Asia meeting some of the sporting superstars in the Ricoh Arena.

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