The London 2012 gold medallist won 11-3 against Croatia's Martina Zubcic in the women's under 57 kilogram final, while team mates Lutalo Muhammad and Bianca Walkden also claimed titles at the single-day event.

Manchester-based Jones had not competed since the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Grand Prix Series final in Queretaro, Mexico, last December when she beat Spanish rival Eva Calvo Gomez.

Having started this year where she left off in 2014, the Welsh fighter is now focusing on this weekend's Turkish Open ranking tournament.

"My aim is to do less competitions this year so I have got to try and nail the ones I'm involved in," said Jones. 

"It's great then to start by getting 10 ranking points.

"Hopefully, I can do the same again on Saturday (February 14) because this year is so important.

"By the end of it we will know which weights will be picked for Rio 2016.

"To qualify the weight, I have got to be in the top six in the world and luckily I am in a good place at the minute."

Jade Jones (right) had not competed since the World Taekwondo Federation World Grand Prix Series final in Queretaro, Mexico, last December ©WTF



Jones's main focus will, no doubt, be the WTF World Championships, scheduled to take place in Chelyabinsk, Russia in May.

But she will also compete at the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 12 to 28, for which she has been named the latest international athlete ambassador.

"It's great to think I will be one of the faces for the Games," said the 21-year-old.

"It's a brilliant honour for me but also for the sport.

"It just shows the profile is getting higher and higher."

London 2012 bronze medallist Muhammad recorded a 13-8 victory against Turkey's reigning European junior champion Berkan Sungu in the men's under 80kg final, having registered a morale boosting 3-2 semi-final success against team mate and US Open champion Damon Sansum.

The 2014 European champion Walkden, competing for only the second time since rupturing her cruciate ligaments last July, beat home favourite Nafia Kus by virtue of a golden point in the women's over 73kg category final.

Georgia Barnes added an under 49kg bronze medal to her recent victory at the Bosnia Open, while former kick boxer and 2014 Commonwealth champion, Rachelle Booth, returned to action to reach the women's under 62kg final in which she lost to Croatia's Marina Sumic.

Jordan Gayle and Christian McNeish upped GB Taekwondo's overall medal tally to seven taking the bronze medals in the men's under 63kg and under 68kg divisions respectively.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2015: Olympic champion Jade Jones becomes latest international ambassador for Baku 2015