Jade And Lauren On Cusp Of £54,000 Jackpot

Jade Jones and Lauren Williams will battle for the biggest prize in taekwondo as they bid for the £54,000 ($70,000) jackpot in China today.

The Welsh duo are among four British fighters who have reached the final of the World Grand Slam in Wuxi.

Double Olympic champ Jones and Blackwood teenager Williams are already guaranteed $20,000 ($15,000) for reaching the final.

Williams – who has said she will help pay off her parent’s mortgage with her winnings – defeated Ivory Coast’s reigning world champion Ruth Gbagbi in her semi-final.

The double European champion, 19, : “It was tough.

“I was feeling tired, more than normal and it definitely showed.

“Ruth is incredibly strong and dynamic. She is a very tough opponent and it will always be close between us.

“I have one more fight to go but to get this far is absolutely crazy I honestly haven’t experienced anything like this before.”

Williams now faces Turkey’s Nur Tatar Askari for -67kg gold and the cash jackpot.

Jade Jones celebrates her semi-final victory in China.

Jones will face China’s Lijun Zhou in Sunday’s -57kg decider after beating Croatia’s Marija Stetic,

Bradly Sinden and double World Champion Bianca Walkden have also reached the final.