Lockley makes her mark at world championship level

Theale's Megan Lockley competed at the Taekwondo ITF World Cup in Koper, Slovenia.

Lockley, 14, was making the step up to world championship level for the first time and impressed in two events despite missing out on a medal following a 3-2 split decision defeat.

"It was an incredible experience, not like anything I've done before," Lockley said.

"I've learned a lot both from my own matches and from spending time with more experienced internationals from other countries.

"The standard was amazing but I think I performed well and I'll be able to take some lessons with me to the Dutch Open in January and progress further.

"I'm also looking forward to passing on my experiences to the other students at the clubs I train at."

Lockley was part of an England team that came fourth overall from a total of 50 countries, some with much larger teams.

Away from the arena, Lockley is working hard to inspire fellow up and coming athletes so that in the future her England squad might be one of the strongest.

She became Pangbourne Rotary Club's youngest ever speaker when she spoke at the club last month.

Members were delighted with Lockley's accomplished and detailed talk but, although eager to learn more, proved a little reluctant to take her on when it came to a demonstration.

The club donated £250 to Lockley to help fund her trip to Slovenia, which required her to stop off in Zagreb before her transfer to Koper.

Lockley is dreaming of making it right to the top and is targeting success at the Dutch Open in the new year and the ITF World Championships in Finland in September 2023.