A TAEKWONDO expert from Flint is fighting her corner in Korea.

Jade Jones, 18, is part of an eight-strong Great British team competing in the Chuncheon Open in South Korea.

The squad will spend a fortnight in the Far East before returning to their
Manchester base to begin the 12-month countdown to the London Olympics.

GB performance director Gary Hall said: “Of course, it would be great for the squad to come away with some medals.

“But it's not just about winning performances, it's about positive performances and hitting the targets we've set in training.

“There will be 60-70 countries represented here so for all members of the team it's going to be a test.

“But also it’s that opportunity to put into practice some of the things they've done in training.”

Jade, the only female member of the squad, is returning to South Korea just two months after taking part in the WTF World Championships.

The former Flint High School pupil made history when she became Britain’s first ever Youth Olympic gold medalist.

Jade took gold in the 55kg division when she overcame Than Thao Nguyen of Vietnam in a sudden-death play-off.

The teenager also took a bronze on her senior competition debut at the European Taekwondo Championships and a silver at the World Junior Championships.

She first tried taekwondo aged eight after being encouraged by family to take up an activity which would help keep her off the streets and teach her self-defence. After fulfilling their Chuncheon Open commitments, the squad will travel to Seoul for the remainder of their stay to combine training with combat against leading Korean professional teams.