Lauren Banks Biggest Ever Winner’s Cheque As She Stuns World Champ

Lauren Williams claimed the biggest prize of here career with a stunning victory at the World Taekwondo World Grand Slam final in China.

The Blackwood teenager scooped around £54,000 ($70,000) after seeing off the reigning world champion from Turkey to win the -67kg division in Wuxi.

Double Olympic champ Jade Jones pocketed around £16,000 after winning the silver medal in the -57kg division.

All smiles for Lauren Williams after banking around £54,000 ($70,000)

 

Williams outclassed reigning world champion and double Olympic medallist, Nur Tatar Askari, to take the title.

“I wanted this so badly,” said the twice former world junior champion who has said beforehand she would use the cash to help pay off her parent’s mortgage.

“No one but my family and friends knew how much I wanted it.

“I’ve done it for them all back home and I feel on top of the world. There was no stopping me getting that gold.

Lauren Williams battles her way to victory in the semi-final in China.

“So, I went out there and stuck to my plan perfectly. And I managed to pull it off.”

Flint’s Jones had been hoping to make it a stunning Welsh double after also reaching the final.

But ‘Headhunter’ Jones was beaten by Lijun Zhou as her Chinese rival avenged her Manchester World Grand Prix defeat to the world number one last October.

Flint’s Jade Jones after winning silver medal.

Liverpool’s Bianca Walkden also walked off with the top prize for the second year in a row after beating America’s Madelynn Gorman-Shore.

“I couldn’t be happier,” smiled 27-year-old Walkden. “I wanted to finish the year off with a gold medal and I’m happy I did it.

“She gave me a good fight but deep down I was hungry to win.”

Yorkshireman Bradly Sinden also finished with silver as the GB team ended the event top of the medal table.