GB taekwondo chiefs face ‘tough decision’ over Rio selection

Conundrum after Lutalo Muhammad’s successes in the World Grand Prix finals in Mexico

London 2012 medallist Lutalo Muhammad won the World Grand Prix finals in Mexico (Getty Images)

British taekwondo administrators are bracing themselves for another Olympic selection conundrum after Lutalo Muhammad’s successes in the World Grand Prix finals in Mexico City.

Muhammad capped his comeback from a recent knee injury by beating former rival Aaron Cook to the prize on Saturday and qualifying for a GB slot in the men’s -80kg category for Rio next year.

Muhammad was picked over then world No 1 Cook for London 2012 and went on to win a bronze medal. Cook switched his representation to Moldova in April this year.

And now selectors must pick between the in-form 24-year-old and his team-mate Damon Sansum, who marked a consistent season by winning a world silver medal in Russia in May.

Muhammad said: “I have had my challenges this year but I have come back to book the spot for GB.” He had trailed Sansum in the rankings for much of the campaign but grabbed a crucial win over his team-mate in the recent World Grand Prix in Manchester.

GB performance director Gary Hall acknowledged that the selectors face a tough decision before the team is named in June.

Hall said: “There is no doubt Lutalo has done an exceptional job but Damon has also done an exceptional job in winning the world silver medal. It is a tough decision and it is such a shame that we are not able to select them both.”