A TEENAGER impressed national team selectors after scooping three gold medals at the International Taekwondo Federation European Championships in Barcelona.
Black belt Emily Oakes, of Winsford E-Act Academy, was best in class in the under 14s girls’ first degree patterns and welterweight sparring divisions before helping the UK team to collective victory in their patterns event.
“I was over the moon for her,” said Alasdair Walkinshaw, Emily’s instructor at the Blue Dragon Club of which she is a member.
“Emily received a huge cheer on her return as everyone at the club was ecstatic for her, but she remains as modest and down to earth as ever.”
The 13-year-old, who was also runner-up in the black belt special technique section in Spain, has been invited by Master Trevor Nicholls – from the UK arm of the ITF – to join the elite squad as it prepares for next year’s World Championships.
Before that, the British Championships take place in Swindon during October.
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