Chance for Simran Kaur to become a Euro Star

Fellow Telford fighter and stable-mate Akash Tuqir went all of the way in the male's competition last year,

Now Kaur, who is trained by coach Khalid Hussain and her brother Harry Dhillon out of Merridale Boxing Club in Wolverhampton, is vying to emulate that feat.

The 15-year-old has been picked for the European Women's Youth and Junior Championships, which will take place in September.

Like Tuqir, she came through a selection camp at the English Institute of Sport before making her international debut at the age range.

The 15-year-old will first don the England kit when the team take on Ireland over the August Bank Holiday weekend, boxing two bouts against her Irish counterpart.

It's meant as a warm-up for the Euros, which will be staged in the Turkish port city of Ordu for a week from September 17 to 24.

Kaur is a schoolgirl at Hadley Learning Community, who honoured her with their Exceptional Student award this year.

Dhillon reflects her family's pride in her, while Hussain reckons she's the hardest-working boxer he's worked with. Both coaches are also from the Telford area.

Hussain, from Leegomery, said: "Nobody I have come across is more dedicated to the sport than Simran. She does everything right from her training to her diet, sleeping and rest.

"Every boxer has one key element, someone close to them who supports what they do and Harry has been with Simran every step of the way. She lives a clean life, there's never any drama.

"She's exceptional and that what makes me believe she can go to Turkey and come home with the gold. Her conditioning could make all of the difference and she'll push herself to her limits.

"She's got the full package, too. The selectors commented on her foot-work, movement and the strength she has.

"She's an aggressive boxer who is always on the front foot, even if you peg her back she'll keep coming forward. She's tall and rangy, with a good jab and she's quick."

The two-time national champion is first hoping to catch the eye again this weekend, when she returns to the EIS for a four-day Team GB assessment.

Hussain believes Kaur can one day achieve her goal of boxing at an Olympic Games. She will be 19 when Tokyo 2020 rolls around.

He said: "There's a long way to go, but she's ahead of where she should be for her age and experience. If I could put money on her going to the Olympics, I would!"

Kaur was picked for the Euros ahead of Savannah Stubley, who moves down to reserve at 46kg in the junior section.

The two have yet to meet in the ring, but would have at June's invitational Hull Box Cup had Stubley not lost her tie to Ciara O'Brien.

Kaur prevailed in the final against O'Brien, who exacted her revenge at July's Monkstown Box Cup in Ireland to hand her defeat for the first time.

That was the first blip after 12 straight wins for Kaur, who has also recorded three stoppages. Stubley's loss to O'Brien was her third.

Hussain said: "We've been asking for the fight with Savannah for a while now. I'm sure it will happen sooner or later."

A helping hand in what Kaur can expect comes in the gym from Tuqir, who starred for his country in the 2015 competition.

He claimed a Euro gold medal and belt at 52kg in imperious fashion last November, with four near-spotless performances.

That success in Poland was embraced by his supporters and Hussain, who was one of nine who travelled to the tournament.

He added: "We all know a little bit more now about how these things work. Akash was unbelieveable, he lost one round out of 12. They are talking about it all of the time."