On the third and final day of the 2022 Manchester World Taekwondo Grand Prix, Lorena Brandl made up for her last +67 kg loss at the European Championships.
The German took revenge on Britain’s Bianca Cook at home in Munich in the quarterfinals before beating Poland’s Aleksandra Kowalczuk.
In the final, Brandl needed all three rounds to defeat France’s Althea Laurin. The 25-year-old visibly beamed as the seconds counted down after an amazing hook kick put her 5-2 ahead.
Laurin needed a headshot that didn’t come and Brandl secured the title.
Xu Lei of China and Kowalczuk both won bronze.
Manchester 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix – Women’s +67kg Results
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Seo Geon-Woo beats Simone Alessio to gold
Seo Geon-Woo didn’t play around in the men’s -80kg final, scoring a point at the start which he kept to win the first round.
The South Korean knew he had to seize the initiative against the in-form Simone Alessio, who had won the previous two Grands Prix in Paris and Rome, but it wasn’t the Italian’s day as Seo won the second round 7-6, to win the title.
Hwan Namgoong of South Korea and Firas Katousi of Tunisia shared bronze.
Manchester 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix – Men -80kg Results
Maicon Siqueira just pips home favourite Cunningham
Despite plenty of home support, Caden Cunningham just lost in the third round of the men’s 80kg+ final to Rio 2016 bronze medalist Maicon Siqueira.
With 20 seconds remaining, Brazil’s Siqueira took the lead before a brace to the body secured him a 4-1 round win and the title.
Cunningham had previously wowed the crowd with a semifinal win over Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Cheick Salla Cisse.
The gripping battle ended the Manchester Grand Prix with medals, winner’s checks and some crucial ranking points towards Paris 2024 qualifying.
Next up is the final of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in the Saudi capital Riyadh in early December.
READ MORE: How to Qualify for Taekwondo in Paris 2024. The Olympic Qualification System Explained
Manchester 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix – Men’s +80kg Results
2 Caden Cunningham, UK
3= Cheick Salla Cisse, Ivory Coast
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