CHESTER rising star Amy Truesdale came close to winning a gold medal at the second World Para Tae Kwon-do Championships.
But she had to settle for silver after she lost by the narrowest of margins in her final at the event in St Petersburg, Russia.
Newton-based Amy, who created history at last year’s championships when she won bronze to become Great Britain’s first medallist at the now annual event for disabled tae kwon-do stars, blazed through to the final where she met Dawn Standeven.
The match proved to be a closely-fought affair but after it went to sudden death, it was Canadian national champion Standeven who was somewhat controversially awarded the victory.
Amy, who trains in Stoke-on-Trent with master Peter Johnson, could still be proud of her efforts.
The 21-year-old travelled to Russia with the able-bodied GB team, including Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medallist Sarah Stevenson, who were competing at the same venue in the European Tae Kwon-do Championships.
Amy, born with the lower part of her left arm missing, could well be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Stevenson in London in two years time. Moves are afoot to make para tae kwon-do a demonstration sport at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
