Mac confident he can taek on world’s finest
CIARAN McGovern is champing at the bit for a return to competitive taekwondo action after a frustrating year, writes TONY HODGSON.
The coronavirus pandemic left the 20-year-old from Gosforth unable to compete or even train properly.
However, the Ferryhill Warriors Taekwondo Club fighter is hoping to be back on the floor later this year - and has his sights set on European and world medal glory.
McGovern, who fights in the under-65kg category, said: “I have found the last year really diffcult - it is last March since I last fought competitively.
“A lot of events I had hoped to contest - such as the Austrian Open, the Luxembourg Open and the Spanish Open - were all called off.
“AlI I could do was try and keep fit so that when competitions resume I will be in the best possible shape to contest them.
“My club have been brilliant in giving me online training sessions to follow, which were a massive help.
“When the original lockdown was eased I was able to do some one-to-one work with my coaches.
“Now I am back to the position I was in before - just ticking over at home and trying to stay in decent shape.”
McGovern added: “I have no idea when competitions will be able to resume but I am confident I will be ready when they are.
“There should be the National Championships later in the year and hopefully some events on the international circuit.
“I have also qualified for the European University Championships which should be in July.
“Longer-term I want to push for medals at senior level at the European Championships and World Championships in 2022.”
McGovern has already fought for his country, making his senior debut as part of the Great Britain development squad at the 2019 Slovenian Open.
He won his first bout against an opponent from Denmark but then lost to a Russian fighter who was then the reigning European Championship silver medalist.
That led to McGovern being called into the Great Britain squad for the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden.
It was the second year in succession the Tynesider - who competed in the under-68kgs category – contested the Euros, the first time as a junior.
However, a hamstring injury sustained in training hampered his chance of glory and he had to settle for fifth overall in his category.
Undeterred, McGovern bounced back in style, winning gold at the National Taekwondo Finals in Manchester to add to his silver at the previous year’s event.