Bush makes history with World Championship gold

Matt Bush became Great Britain’s first ever male World Para Taekwondo champion with a dramatic golden-win in the +75kg final.

The 6ft 5in Welshman was level at 8-8 with Russia’s Zainutdin Ataev but landed the decisive kick in sudden death.

In a remarkable rise, Bush only started taekwondo two years ago after a shoulder injury ruled him out of competing in athletics at Rio 2016.

He has also flirted with MMA and jujitsu but seems to have found his home in taekwondo, with qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next on the horizon.

Bush started his day by progressing to the quarter-finals at the expense of home favourite Taner Tan before seeing off third seed Asghar Aziziaghdam in the last eight.

A convincing 12-3 win over Germany’s Hasim Celik in the semi-finals was good enough to reach the gold medal match against Russia’s Ataev.

And at the end of a topsy-turvy battle, he came out on top in a thrilling encounter to get Great Britain’s week off to a dream start.

“I wanted this for my team and Great Britain,” he said.

Amy Truesdale and Ben Lane are also in action for Great Britain in Antalya this week.

(Picture: GB Taekwondo)