Taekwondo at the Olympics: Britain’s Caden Cunningham in the running for gold in the men’s +80 kg category, Rebecca McGowan in the running again

Britain’s Caden Cunningham will bid for Olympic taekwondo gold later on Saturday – and Rebecca McGowan will once again be fighting for a chance at bronze.

Cunningham, who was competing in his first Olympic Games, upset Rio 2016 champion Cheick Sallah Cisse in the men’s +80kg semi-final.

The two men were tied at 1-1 heading into the final round of the best-of-three match – and, as time ran out, the score in the deciding game was 5-5.

But Cunningham, 21, was judged to have had more blows and was declared the winner.

Cunningham will face Iran’s Arian Salimi in the final at 8.18pm BST, knowing he is assured of at least a silver medal in Paris.

Asked how he would prepare for the final, Cunningham said: “Relax, eat a banana, drink, smile and warm up.

“I intend to emerge victorious, so let these be happy days.”

Bianca Cook, a double Olympic bronze medallist for Great Britain, praised Cunningham’s maturity during the fight.

“It was going to be a very close game right up until the end but Caden kept his cool,” she told BBC television.

“They both have very strong characters. They knew what they had to do to get the upper hand on each other and Caden was fantastic.”