Headhunter Jones Crowned European Championin Switzerland

Jade Jones is on course to defend her Olympic crown after being crowned European Taekwondo Champion with a devastating display in Switzerland.

The Flint fighter won the -57kg category in her last major event before this summer’s Olympics after thrashing Sweden’s Nikita Glasnovic 11-5 in the final.

Jones had taken silver and bronze twice in previous championships, but showed why she is the world’s best in Montreux.

The 23-year-old said: “I am over the moon with that. The road to Rio has been harder than the one to London, but it’s great to tick being European Champion off the list.

“Its going to be tough in Rio, but I believe in my ability and it is up to me to perform on the day.”

Jones, nicknamed The Headhunter, whitewashed Poland’s Ewelina Mierzwinska 12-0 in her opening fight.

She then saw off Daria Zhuravleva of Russia 8-1 to set-up a semi-final with Croatia’s Martina Zubcic who she beat 7-5.

In the final, Jones took an early 2-0 lead before dominating the second round to open up an 8-1 lead after picking up three points from her favoured head shot on appeal to the judges.

Jones kept her composure in the final two-minute round to see off any hopes of a comeback from Glasnovic who she had never lost to in the past.

Wales’ golden girl was sidelined four months this month with a knee problem, but returned to action last month to triumph in the German Open.

And her victory in Switzerland will have the rest of her rivals fearing coming up against her in Brazil