Woolley tops the podium in Albania

JACK WOOLLEY was back on top of the podium at a World Taekwondo ranking tournament after he contested the Albania Open in Tirana on Sunday.

With some of the world’s top fighters in pursuit of coveted ranking points and medals that will have a say in the positioning of fighters for the 2022 World and European Championships seedings, the Tallaght man returned to the ring in the first of a series of events that will close out the year for him.

Lining out in his usual -58kg division, Woolley received a bye through Round One before facing off against Hergan Onanga of France and winning out comfortably 24-2.

Meeting him in the quarter final was Germany’s Hueseyin Canan who broke from the blocks in aggressive fashion, but the South Dublin Taekwondo fighter managed to weather the onslaught to record a 27-7 victory, once again finishing the match early on the 20-point rule.

Now in among the medals, Woolley came up against Sweden’s Frederick Emil Olsen.

A cagey opening round saw a patient Woolley deal with his opponent’s threat and take the lead after Round One by way of a whipping signature head-shot.

With his nose in front, he managed to contain his opponent to secure an 8-4 victory.

The decider pitched him against tournament second seed and current European champion Cyrian Ravet in what was another calculating match for both fighters.

Woolley started strong to take the lead and build on it for a 7-3 gold-medal victory and, with it, 10 ranking points in a shorter ranking season that runs from August to December 2021.

Returning to Dublin with his Coach Robert Taaffe earlier this week, the Tallaght man will regroup ahead of more World ranking events in Montenegro and Netherlands later this month.