Rash's Games dream

1/ 8/2001

A MANCHESTER boxer could soon be representing his home country Bangladesh in the South Asian Boxing Games.

Abdul Rashid has been invited to join boxers in Dhaka by games organisers for a month of residential training. If they like Abdul's boxing skills he will be chosen to represent his home country in the lightweight category.

This opportunity could also lead to Abdul representing Bangladesh in the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Manchester next year.

Said 25-year-old Abdul from Withington, Mancherster: "It would be a great honour for me to represent my own country. I had got in touch with the Bangladesh Boxing Federation to see what kind of opportunities there are for me abroad so I was quite pleased when they wrote back telling me about the SABF.

"I had sent them videos of my matches and references and they must have liked what the saw. I'm a bit nervous about going but this will be great experience especially if I am chosen to represent Bangladesh. I'm training as often as possible to stay fit before I go."

Abdul started his boxing career at the age of 17 and had only taken the sport more seriously at 19. Four years ago he joined the Salford-based Arrow Amateur Boxing Club were he has now been awarded Arrow's Boxer of the Year Award.

"I'm training harder now and I am more focused. Next year my aim will be to box at a professional level."

Chairman and coach of the Arrow Amateur Boxing Club Russ Arrowsmith said Abdul deserved the club title. Said Russ: "He trains here as often as he can and he has shown good results because of it. His attitude in the ring is great.

"He is a focused boxer and will go along way."