AARON Cook appears to be in good shape approaching this summer’s Olympic Games in London after striking gold in the -80kg category at the Dutch Open in Eindhoven.

The Dorchester-born taekwondo ace’s success also included sweet revenge over compatriot Lutalo Muhammad in the semi-finals, who had recently knocked him out of the last four in the German Open in Hamburg.

Cook overcame Sebastian Crismanich in the final 9-8 and Great Britain performance director Gary Hall was the first to congratulate him on a job well done.

There was also success for Mancunian Jordan Gayle (-63kg) while Bianca Walkden (-67kg) took silver as Team GB snared a total of 12 medals, including junior golds for Jamie Abley and Asia Bailey.

Commenting on the development of the sport around the country, Hall said: “It is a hard job, but a good job and we now have a really strong group of athletes, who can win major medals.

“Aaron and Bianca did good jobs in our Olympic weight categories, so it is all positive.”

Cook’s victory was impressive, particularly after Londoner Muhammad had stood out earlier on with a stunning 7-0 success over former European Champion-ship silver medallist Nikolaos Tzellos.

German Open champion, Damon San-sum, lost 5-3 to Iran’s former World +87kg bronze medallist, Kourosh Rajoly, in the last 16.

The same stage also proved the downfalls of National champion Andy Deer and Craig Brown, who was beaten on golden point by Russian Dimitry Zakrerin, 12-11.

A runners-up spot in the -67kg weight division was no consolation for Walkden.

After fighting at +73kg in Hamburg, she is desperate to prove an able deputy for world champion Sarah Stevenson, who is on the road to recovery after suffering a knee injury in training.

At one stage Walkden looked on course for gold before tournament organisers switched the start time of her final at the 11th hour.

Indeed, she was barely fully kitted out before her meeting against home favourite, Reshmire Oogink, who ended up securing a 6-2 victory.

MEDAL WINNERS

Juniors, -42kg: Katie Bradley (South Hams TKD) silver.

-44kg: Asia Bailey (Scotland National Team) gold.

-46kg: Jemma Johnson (BTS, Brighton) bronze.

-49kg: Jennifer Marjason (BTS, Brighton) bronze.

-55kg: Tom Walters (Kang Han, Hucknall) bronze.

-59kg: Jamie Abley (Spennymoor) gold.

-68kg: Alexandra Thomas (London) silver.

-78kg: Levi Goodridge (Spitfire, Southampton) bronze.

Seniors, -63kg: Jordan Gayle (Manchester) gold.

-67kg: Bianca Walkden (Liverpool) silver.

-80kg: Aaron Cook (Dorchester) gold, Lutalo Muhammad (Walthamstow) bronze.