Day One of the 2026 British International Open delivered a relentless display of world-class Kyorugi, as the global community gathered in Manchester for a full day of elite action.
With six courts running simultaneously and hundreds of athletes competing across senior divisions, the standard was evident from the opening exchanges through to the final bouts of the evening.
By the end of an action-packed day, it was the Great Britain National Team who stood tall as Team Champions, producing a series of strong performances across multiple weight categories. They were followed by the USA Academy Team in second place, with the Bulgarian National Team securing third, a reflection of the international depth on display throughout the competition.
There were plenty of British stars on show throughout the day at the National Cycling Centre, with Dantre Knight-Mitchell and Zak Angell going head-to-head in the -80kg Male final, with the former taking home gold after a 2-0 victory.
Chloe Roberts was another Brit to take home gold from Saturday’s action, with the
22-year-old overcoming compatriot and top seed Iman Kanoute in the semi-final, before defeating Algeria’s Khalida Haddad to stand on top of the podium.
In the -62kg division, top seed Neve McPhillie led a large and competitive field of 21 athletes. She was joined by a strong British contingent including Beth Christy, Lola Williams, and Ava Bett, all competing in a division packed with international talent from across Europe and beyond.
After a strong run to the final, Neve was unable to overcome American athlete Makayla Greenwood, but the member of Glasgow’s Elite Martial Arts can be proud of her efforts on the international stage.
In the -73kg division, Great Britain’s depth was again evident, with Ruby Mackay seeded number one and Olympic medallist Rebecca McGowan competing alongside Erin Shaw and Lauren Gallacher. The category featured a strong mix of established names and emerging talent, making it one of the highlights of the day.
GB teammates Mackay and McGowan faced off in the semi-final in one of the most eagerly-anticipated battles of the day. Despite Rebecca taking the victory, she had to withdraw from the final due to injury, leaving Erin Shaw as the victor in that division.
The -53kg female division was another that was hotly contested on Saturday, with 17 athletes competing. British fighters Rhianna Patel, Elisha Shaw, Lily Hoy, and Ruby Lee battled through a challenging draw against opponents from France, Ireland, and Norway.
Elisha was the athlete to advance the furthest as she took home bronze after being defeated in the semi-final, with her conqueror Lenya Kamkasoumphou of France the one to win gold.
Another British medallist on Day One was Tomi Makanjuola of Aquila Taekwondo, who fought valiantly throughout the competition before being edged out by Khalfani Harris of the USA in the semi-final, with the American going on to win the competition.
A further five bronze medals were awarded to British athletes throughout the day, with Matt Howell (Male -74kg), Riley Pettigrew (Male -87kg), Etta Choi (Female -46kg) Phoenix Goodman (Female -49kg) and Chloe Dutton (Female +73kg) all reaching the semi-final in their respective divisions.
Another standout name on Day One was Ayda Khorshidi of Jeon-Sa Taekwondo. The Iranian-born athlete competes for the World Taekwondo Refugee Team and lived up to her billing as top seed as she won her competition with successive 2-0 victories.
Clubmates and fellow TRT members Mo Mokhtari and Aysa Khorshidi were also among the medals, with Mo securing gold in the -87kg Male category, while Aysa earned silver in the -46kg Female division.
Their presence, alongside other international and refugee athletes, added to the diversity and inclusivity that continues to define the British International Open, with over 50 countries set to be represented over the course of the weekend.
Day One once again reinforced Manchester’s reputation as a hub for international Taekwondo in the United Kingdom. With athletes from across the World competing, the event brought together a wide range of styles, experiences, and cultures, all united by a shared passion for the sport.
Eight different nationalities stood atop of the podium during the day’s action, with a total of 18 separate countries going home with a medal to their name.
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