Natalie Powell has booked her ticket to Rio after striking bronze at the
Mexico World Judo Masters.

Merthyr Tydfil’s Commonwealth champ is assured of selection in the -78kg category after beating her British rival and Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons in the event in Guadalajara.

Powell would be the first Welsh female star to compete in Judo in the Olympics when she takes to the competition mat in Brazil this summer.

The 25-year-old said: “It’s really good to finish the qualification on a high note.

“It’s been a tough few years and after winning the European bronze it was hard to get myself up again for another big tournament.

“Winning the bronze means that the points I have gained will put into seventh seed for the Olympic Games if selected.”

Powell and Gibbons had to share a room as they were the last two Brits competing with the Welsh ace seeing off her rival in an all-British quarter-final.

Powell lost out in the semi-finals in Mexico to reigning Olympic champion Kayla Harrison of the United States.

But Olympic selection was already in the bag.

Both Powell and Gibbons meet the qualifying requirement of being ranked in the top 14 in the world, but only one athlete per nation per weight category can go to Rio.