Asia Major Wins First GB Medal at European Championships

Scottish teenager Asia Bailey has secured Great Britain's first medal at the ETU European Championships in Azerbaijan. (Thursday) The 16-year-old from Falkirk enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals ofthe -46kg weight division, including an eye catching, first round 6-3 victory over reigning European champion, Ioanna Koutsou of Greece, 11 years her senior. Bailey, a 2012 World Junior bronze medallist, faced Ukraine's Iryna Romoldanova,19, for a place in the final. But the older girl, twice European Junior champion, always had the edge and eventually completed a 5-0 victory. "At first I was disappointed as I came here for gold," said Bailey, believed to be the youngest competitor in Baku. "But now I feel proud of what I've achieved. I felt I got better with each match. "The first two were tough but I produced a good performance in the quarter final getting a 12 point gap." On her semi-final against eventual runner-up Romoldanova, Bailey added: "I've fought her before and she's experienced and fast. "That difference between juniors and seniors was really noticeable today, particular their speed and strength. These more experienced players will find gaps while in juniors there are more opportunities to score. "It felt strange being here as a 16 year old, amongst all these 'old women'. But I'm glad I made it and it's been a great experience." Wigan's Rachelle Booth, a member of the GB Academy in Manchester only since last September, marked her major Olympic style taekwondo Championship debut by overcoming Finland's Jenna Partenen 11-9. Next drawn against second seed and 2011 World Championship silver medallist, Marina Sumic, Booth was in the contest for the opening two rounds before her Croatian rival pulled away to win 92.

World number three Mahama Cho suffered early disappointment in his bid to add to his World Grand Prix crown. The London raised heavyweight received a first round bye and then brushed aside the challenge of Denmark's Zakaria Asidah 14-1. However, Cho's progress ended in the quarter-finals, beaten almost as comprehensively by Belarus's former world junior champion, Arman-Marshall Silla. Darren Chapman was the fourth member of GB's 14-strong squad in action on the opening day of competition in Baku. His first fight was to make the weight at -54kg after recently competing at 58kg. Having won his battle with the scales the Northampton born fighter caused a major stir by knocking out top seed and home favourite, Mikayil Aliyev 10-8. And the Fighting Chance Battle4Brazil graduate and former kick boxer had chances to extend his winning run. He was level going into the third and final round of his quarter-final against Jesus Cabrera. Instead, the Spaniard regained the initiative, scoring on the counter to deprive Chapman of a medal. Results: Male: Darren Chapman (Northampton) -54kg: Round One: bt Martin Atanasov (Bulgaria) 3-2 Round Two: bt Mikayil Aliyev (Azerbaijan) 10-8 Quarter-final: lost 4-2 against Jesus Cabrera (Spain)

Mahama Cho (Stockwell, London) +87kg: Round One: Bye Round Two: bt Zakaria Asidah (Denmark) 14-1 Quarter-final: lost 13-1 against Arman-Marshall Silla (Belarus). Asia Bailey (Falkirk)

-46kg: Round One: bt Ioanna Koutsou (Greece) 6-3 Round Two: bt Elaia Torrontegui Ronco (Spain) 10-6 Quarter-final: bt Sumeyye Iloglu (Turkey) 13-1 Semi-final: lost 5-0 to Iryna Romoldanova (Ukraine).