Beth Munro targets paralympic medal just weeks after her first ever para taekwondo fight

For many athletes, heading to Tokyo is the culmination of a lifelong dream.

But for Liverpool's Beth Munro, it's the result of an astonishing rise from complete beginner to Paralympic medal contender in just 18 months.

In late 2019, the confident - but not cocky - netballer attended a disability sporting event in Wales, which would transform her life.

"A man called Anthony Hughes from Disability Sport Wales approached me and said 'If I can get you a Paralympic medal, would you move to Cardiff and train in javelin and taekwondo?" Beth recalls.

Beth played netball and attempted javelin before finding her feet in Taekwondo Credit: Beth Munro

Soon javelin was thrown to one side as Beth got her kicks on the taekwondo mats. She earned a call-up to the British training camp and won her first fight in May - which also guaranteed her place at the Paralympic Games, where para taekwondo will make its debut this year.

Beth describes how taekwondo wasn't an obvious career choice.

Beth added: "I believe in fate in a sense that, if the pandemic hadn't have hit, then Tokyo would have happened last year.

"So I would not have had the opportunity, skill and technique to get to Tokyo. So everything, in a sense, has fallen into place.

"My aim is to medal. I'm very determined and focused towards that."

Beth played netball and attempted javelin before finding her feet in taekwondo Credit: Beth Munro