ReutersThe 18-year-old was barely mentioned in terms of her Games credentials until last summer when gold at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore catapulted her into the senior reckoning.
Those results saw her fast tracked into the senior ranks for the 2011 season and Jones didn’t disappoint in Gyeongju, claiming silver in the Far East, adding to teammate Sarah Stevenson’s emotional gold a day earlier.
Jones – fighting in the -57kg category – had to do it the hard way, beating France’s Marlene Harnois in the semi-final on a golden point, after the pair were locked at 7-7.
And despite being downed by China’s reigning world champion Hou Yuzhuo in the final Jones – who beat highly-rated world number five Veronica Calabrese in the final 32 – claimed the silver that will put her in the box seat for 2012 qualification.
British Taekwondo will make their decision on which four weights – two men and two women – will be entered for the showpiece London event almost immediately after these World Championships.
And while Jones will be feeling quietly confident about the -57kg classification making the cut teammate Martin Stamper will be hopeful of the -68kg category also being picked out.
On what was an impressive day for the GB athletes, Stamper helping himself to bronze in the -68kg, eventually going down to 15-2 to eventual champion Servet Tazegu from Turkey.
Stamper – who missed out on the Beijing Games when his weight category was not included in the programme – had served notice of his intentions with victory in the US and German Opens earlier in the year.
And he was at it again in South Korea, climbing the podium with bronze to add to Stevenson’s -67kg gold.
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