Cross, from Bathgate, said she was devastated after the decision at the ITF World Championships in Mar Del Plata.

The championships are the highest ranking competition on the Taekwon Do calendar and IV degree Cross was the coach of the Scotland squad which travelled to South America last month.

It was the ninth time Cross had taken part in the competition and the fierce competitor was unhappy at only coming home with a silver in the sparring and a bronze in the
patterns.

She said: "I knew it would be tough on home ground against my opponent but the fight went really well and I was positive the decision would go my way.

"I had overpowered and scored clear points on the Argentinean and felt confident as my opponent had ten warnings and I only had one.

"When the final whistle went I was ready for it, but it was not to be as the Argentinean's hand went up.

"Disappointment is not the word to describe my emotions. So many people including judges and officials said the win should have been mine."

Other county competitors in the ITF Scotland team were Michelle Redmond, Samantha Merritt, Mark McGeachie and coach Heath Denholm, who all train at Master Sutherland's Academy in Bathgate.

Michelle Redmond also gained a silver in the under-52kg sparring after defeat to her Slovenian counterpart in the final.

Cross, Merritt and Maree McDonough were also tied in the gold medal position in the Team Power category, but eventually had to settle for bronze following play-offs against Poland and New Zealand.