SETTLE taekwondo player Harriet Akeroyd admitted she was brought to tears after discovering she would represent Great Britain at the World University Games in South Korea.

The 19-year-old will be one of 10,000 athletes from more than 150 countries competing in Gwangju between July 3 and 14.

The World University Games is recognised as the second largest multi-sport event behind only the Olympics and Akeroyd insisted she was overwhelmed when she found out she had been selected.

The former Settle College pupil is a first-year Sport & Exercise Science student at Leeds Beckett University.

The 19-year-old took up taekwondo nine years ago and her career highlight so far has been competing in the Commonwealth Championships last year, where she exited in the first round.

She will again compete in the -53kg category and now that she has composed herself Akeroyd can’t wait to get going.

She said: “My dad rang from work and said you will never guess what; you have been selected. I was like ‘Oh my goodness, are you joking with me?’

“I was so shocked that I burst into tears because I was so happy and I know it is such a prestigious thing – it sort of scared me at first but afterwards I was so happy.

“My mum was so happy and it was big news for my family. I am really excited; I can’t wait for it.

“I really want to build some friends all over the world – to meet new people – as well as fighting as best as I can. I think it is going to be an amazing experience for me, especially at a young age.

“I hope to do it again in the future and go on to bigger things as well.”

Akeroyd competes for Quest Taekwondo and is in her first year competing at senior level. She admits it has been a difficult transition at times but is enjoying the step up, insisting she has no nerves heading into the major competition.

“The World University Games is going to be amazing and such a great opportunity,” she added.

“To go to South Korea and compete for Great Britain is going to be amazing. It will be a great experience.”

“I hope if I perform well here then it will bring more opportunities to represent Great Britain in the future. I’m really looking forward to it.”

British Universities & College Sport (BUCS) is the governing body for higher education sport in the UK, representing 170 institutions and facilitating 52 sport programmes. BUCS will be sending a delegation of Great Britain’s next generation of elite athletes to the World University Games (Summer Universiade) being held in Gwangju Korea 4-14 July. For more information visit www.bucs.org.uk