A MARTIAL arts fighter beat the odds to bring home a medal.

Julie Roth, from Upper Lambourn, won a bronze medal in the 2017 World Taekwondo Federation Spring Open in Manchester.

The Taekwondo champion had been left unable to train properly in the run up to the competition due to a chest infection and a injury to her hip.

The 2nd Degree Black Belt said: “ My preparation for the competition was unique and I hadn't done a lot of training in the 6 weeks leading up to it due to a severe chest infection.

“I feel like I'm in a real life fairy tale! I have faced all sorts of things and had to fight against injury and illness but my talent shines through.

“When I went into the Ring, I just focused on trying my best.”

Ms Roth chose to compete against the advice of her coaches Robert Morgan-Warren of Reading Taekwondo Club and David Chesworth.

The 31-year-old was competing in her new class for the first time at the competition and said she enjoyed being reunited Scotland's elite Martial Arts Academy.

She added: “My next stop is Harrogate Championships at the end of the month where I will be competing in two divisions, Individuals and Pairs and plan to bring back two Gold medals.

“Training has already started for it and I'm ready to fight whatever gets thrown in my path.”