By Mark Ashenden

Cummins won gold in the 2006 Dutch and German Opens

Four years ago the British taekwondo team were ranked 88th in the world. Now, with just over a year to go until the Olympics they are 11th.

With top-class coaches, a high-end performance programme and a full-time academy moving to Manchester, the sport can now be unquestionably classed as professional.

Although team GB did not pick up any medals at the world championships in China, the outlook is excellent and the team is capable of breaking into the world's top five, according to performance director Gary Hall.

The mission should be a breeze if 15-year-old Farren Cummins has anything to do with it.

Team GB's number one junior made her senior debut in Beijing - losing on sudden death to one of Greece's top players - and the same stage awaits her at next year's Olympics.

Hall says the number one attribute for the best taekwondo players is to have a "controlled fire burning in the belly" and Cummins has that by the bucket load.

The teenager, who hails from Manchester, took up the sport at the age of four after watching her brother and sister in action.

"I have never been involved in a fight outside taekwondo," she told BBC Sport.

"I do love the fighting but I've just always been very competitive - even playing pool or on the football pitch. I always want to win.

"I am always covered in bruises. You've just got to deal with it.

"You've got to have lots of passion, but when you do get hurt or you get angry because you've made a bad decision on the mat you can't show it.

I just do not have time to do anything else. I live and breathe taekwondo Farren Cummins

"And when you get kicked - and kicked hard - you've got to hide it and that's not always easy."

Cummins is a permanent resident at the taekwondo academy and has to juggle her time alongside 18 other young hopefuls.

She trains for five hours a day, and unlike the senior stars, has to then contend with school for additional three hours.

"You need discipline. Some people just wouldn't do the training or turn up on time but you just learn to do as you're told," she says.

"I have no hobbies, I just do not have time to do anything else. I live and breathe taekwondo."

The world championships offered a vital dress rehearsal for Beijing 2008 and Cummins will be using the experience to play a leading role as the sport builds towards China and London.

The Olympic qualification event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be in Manchester 28-30 September 2007.