10 athletes hoping to make their mark on the world stage in 2022

This time last year Emma Raducanu was languishing outside the world’s top 300 and a 12-year-old called Sky Brown was spouting scarcely believable ambitions of becoming Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist.

Fast forward 12 months and a new set of rising stars, both at home and abroad, are targeting 2022 as the year in which they emulate Raducanu and Brown and announce their arrivals on the world stage.

Here, the PA news agency selects the pick of the athletes to watch in 2022.

Bruce Mouat (curling)

Team GB Curling Team Announcement – Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games
Bruce Mouat is targeting two medals at the Winter Olympics (Jane Barlow/PA)

Christ Tshiunza (rugby union)

Wales U20 v Ireland U20 – Under 20s Guinness Six Nations – Cardiff Arms Park
Christ Tshiunza is making his name for Exeter and Wales (David Davies/PA)

Leylah Fernandez (tennis)

US Open – Day Twelve – USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Leylah Fernandez (left) is set to step out of Emma Raducanu’s shadow (ZUMA/PA)

Savannah Marshall (boxing)

Hughie Fury v Christian Hammer – Utilita Arena
Savannah Marshall is set for major showdown with Claressa Shields (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Zhao Xintong (snooker)

Cazoo UK Championship – Day Thirteen – York Barbican
Zhao Xintong made a major breakthrough at the UK Championship (Richard Sellers/PA)

Leona Maguire (golf)

Leona Maguire starred in this year’s Solheim Cup (David Dermer/PA)

Conor Gallagher (football)

Burnley v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Turf Moor
Conor Gallagher faces a major decision in 2022 (Martin Rickett/PA)

George Russell (Formula One)

George Russell File Photo
More grand prix podiums for George Russell in 2022 (Tim Goode/PA)

Keely Hodgkinson (athletics)

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Package
Keely Hodgkinson is targeting more medals in 2022 (Martin Rickett/PA)

Alice Capsey (cricket)

London Spirit v Oval Invincibles – The Hundred – Women’s Match – Lord’s
Alice Capsey was the star of this year’s inaugural Hundred (Yui Mok/PA)

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