Jade Jones, Lauren Williams and Beth Munro aim for world taekwondo success on home soil
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Double Olympic champion Jones has been rebuilding herself in 2023 after her unsuccessful campaign in Japan in 2021.
Jones, 29, told BBC Sport earlier this year she “wasn’t in a good place” at last summer’s Tokyo Games after suffering from anxiety in lockdown.
The Welsh fighter had been hoping to win an historic third consecutive Olympic gold, but lost her first contest.
Over the last few months, Jones has picked up success in the Presidents Cup, Swedish Open and Slovenia Open as she has re-found her love for the sport.
“It’s been about a year of figuring myself out on the back of the devastating loss in Tokyo,” said Jones.
“It’s been about finding myself and building back confidence, making sure it’s what I still want to do. There’s still more to come and I am feeling good mentally and physically.
“This next two years is going to be important with all qualification tournaments. So it’s it’s all foot on the gas to qualify for Paris.”
Jones wants to finish her Olympics legacy on her own terms as she bids to qualify for a fourth Games.
“After the defeat in Tokyo, I was feeling I hate the sport and despised it a bit but then, after a few weeks, you realise how hard it was to do what I have done in the first place,” said Jones.
“Winning two Olympic golds, being a world champion and multi-European titles.
“I have been learning that wasn’t me in Tokyo, it wasn’t me the fighter in there, so I couldn’t leave it like that.
“Basically in Paris I want to fight like myself and go out on my sword, rather than what I did in Tokyo.”
Jones has fond memories of competing in Manchester where she won her only World Championship title in 2019.
“I always love fighting on home soil,” said Jones.
“It took me a while to get that World gold medal and there was no better place to do it.
“I always seem to fight better there, so as many competitions as I can get there is better for me.
“So I’d love to smash it with a gold medal and plant my place back on the scene.”
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