BLACKWOOD'S Lauren Williams will attempt to win next month's World Championship on home soil after being selected in the Great Britain taekwondo squad for Manchester.

The 20-year-old will be one of the favourites for the -67kg weight division at the tournament, which runs from May 15 to 19.

Williams is twice junior world champion and won the President's Cup title in Antalya earlier this year, following on from becoming only the second GB fighter to capture the World Grand Slam title and £54,000 first prize.

South Wales Argus:

The Welshwoman is part of a 15-strong squad that will have home support at the Manchester Arena.

Williams, who trains in the city, is joined by fellow big hitters Bianca Walkden, Jade Jones and Mahama Cho.

"The squad is a great combination of experienced, in-form, new and developing athletes, all super excited to be taking part in a historic World Championships in their own back yard," said performance director Gary Hall.

"We believe we have a strong squad to do it justice. If they all hit form it should be a great championship for GB Taekwondo.

"We have a target of three to five medals and we feel we are capable of winning three to five.

"But make no mistake, despite the Olympic Games being the pinnacle of this sport, the World Championships are so difficult to win because it is stacked with depth and quality.

"However, we know how to win and we have proven it in the past. We will be utilising all that experience to get the best results possible."

For Liverpool heavyweight Walkden, it's chance to win three successive World golds while double Olympic champion Jones, still awaits her first after silver eight years ago and bronze in 2017.

There has never been a British male world champion though Damon Sansum (-80kg) holds silver and bronze while heavyweight Cho finished runner-up in South Korea two years ago.

Squad

Female: -46kg: Jordyn Smith (Falkirk), -49kg: Maddison Moore (Blakedown), -53kg: Aaliyah Powell (Huddersfield), -57kg: Jade Jones (Flint), -62kg: No selection, -67kg: Lauren Williams (Blackwood), -73kg: Rebecca McGowan (Dumbarton), +73kg: Bianca Walkden (Liverpool)

Male: -54kg: Mason Yarrow (Doncaster), -58kg: Hassan Haider (Falkirk), -63kg: Josh Calland (Liverpool), -68kg: Bradly Sinden (Doncaster), -74kg: Christian McNeish (Plaistow), -80kg: Damon Sansum (Elgin), -87kg: Lutalo Muhammad (Walthamstow), +87kg: Mahama Cho (Stockwell)