The 21-year-old came within six seconds of upsetting South Korea's world number one Dae-Hoon Lee, winner of the opening Grand Prix in Suzhou, in the men's under 68kg category final.

But, having led 7-1 at one stage, Acha suffered an agonising defeat when a successful kick from Lee, the two-time world and Asian Games champion, to his head secured a 15-14 win. 

The Belgian had already caused a shock, beating world champion Iranian Behnam Asbaghikhanghah, in the quarter-final by a dramatic golden point. 

"This Grand Prix is a very high level and it was very difficult to make it to the final," said Achab, winner of the European title in the under 63kg category earlier this year. 

"I was winning in the first round but he's the world number one so it was not going to be so easy.

"I'm not sure how much confidence this will give me, but I just work hard whatever happens and hopefully it'll be enough to get to the Olympics."

The bronze medasl in the category went to China's Jiannan Huang and the United States' Mark Lopez.

World number one Dae-Hoon Lee secured a brilliant late victory over Belgium's Belgium's Jaouad Achab in the under 68kg category at the WTF Grand Prix in Manchester ©WTF

Calvo Gomez, a 23-year-old from Leganés defending the title she had won at this corresponding event here last year, must have feared she had blown her opportunity when Jones caught her off-guard to level the score 4-4 in the final round.

But she clinched victory with a golden point after 51 seconds off overtime, just as had happened in the previous Grand Prix at Astana in August and here 10 months ago when she had beaten Jones on both occasions. 

Calvo Gomez, who had also won the opening Grand Prix of 2014 in Suzhou, has now won all four Grand Prix events in her category since it was launched last December. 

"I'm very pleased because I knew it was going to be a very hard fight against Jade, it always is," she said.  

"She's a really great fighter and I'm really happy to have won.

"Every championship against Jade it's always a really hard match, usually a golden point.

"She's so explosive and she's physically stronger than me.

"Personally I like the golden point because I only ever fight one point at a time."

South Korea's Ah-reum Lee and Japan's Mayu Hamada won the bronze medals.

Iran finished top overall of the medals table with two golds and two brnzes ahead of Spain's two golds, while South Korea, Russia, Serbia and Germany all claimed one victory apiece as hosts Britain picked up a silver, along with the Isle of Man, represented by Aaron Cook. 

WTF President Dr Chungwon Choue was pleased with the success of the event.

"The level of support for taekwondo here is excellent - not only the fans' enthusiasm but also the financial support from organisers here has been really good," he said. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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