Conway looking for grand slam success in Paris

SALLY Conway is looking to make her mark on the world stage after being selected to compete in the Paris Grand Slam held this weekend.

GOING FOR GLORY: Sally Conway heads to Paris in search of her first grand slam gold (Getty Images)

The 23-year-old is part of an eight-strong British squad who will be competing in one of the four grand slams on the judo calendar.

The -70kg judoka won gold at the Minsk World Cup last year and achieved a creditable fifth in the 2009 World Championships.

Conway will be looking to recreate the form that saw her ease through the earlier rounds of the tournament last year but avoid the mistakes that saw her crash out in the straight knockout system.

"After missing out on a medal last year, I hope that this year I will go that step further and get a Grand Slam medal in Paris," she said.

"Going into this tournament I feel I have made some good improvements in my judo and I'm feeling strong - so fingers crossed."

Conway will be joined by Scotland's Euan Burton, who captured gold in Tokyo at the last grand slam of 2009 in the -80kg category.

Also in the squad are the 2009 world silver medallist Karina Bryant, who will be competing in the +78kg, and Sarah Clark in the -63kg category, who won silver in the Paris tournament in 2004 along with a bronze in 2005.

"During this transition period the grand slams offer the opportunity for players to compete at a high level and we hope Paris will provide some solid evidence of the progressions we are seeking," said Margaret Hicks, British Judo's performance director.

Completing the line up are James Miller (-60kg), Colin Oates (-66kg), Matt Purssey (-90kg) and Ashley McKenzie (-60kg).