KARATE coach Kevin McAuslan-Crine (pictured) has just won his first world championship medal.

Last year's European champion was troubled by injuries before making the trip to the Dominican Republic.

"I've had a lot of injuries and I had not really recovered so I had only three weeks to prepare," said the 25-year-old.

"Had I been on top form and injury-free, I would have won."

The Su-Ha-Ri instructor at Basingstoke Sports Centre was given a first-round bye.

In the second, he beat his Irish opponent with ease but came unstuck in the semi-finals when he came up against the eventual winner, a fighter from the Dominican Republic, who recorded an 8-4 victory.

McAuslan-Crine, who won his European title in Italy last year, was making his first bid for a world title.

The two beaten semi-finalists were awarded bronze medals in the absence of a fight-off for third place.

A British silver medalist two years ago, the man from Little London will be out for gold at the national championships next April.

He added: "I would like to thank Adam Doyle and Katie Wright for assisting me in my training."