Starlet Simran Kaur has the world at her feet

The 16-year-old is heading for Italy next month having been selected to compete in the European Championships.

And after picking up silver medals in the last two years, Simran is determined to make it third time lucky and bring home a gold.

The Hadley Learning Community School student will head to Italy in confident mood having once again dominated the domestic scene.

She has recently claimed the ABA Youth title in Doncaster for the fourth year running – a victory that booked her a place at the one-day European selection camp in Leeds.

And after impressing the selectors, she is now aiming to showcase her skills on the world stage in what promises to be a huge year for the dedicated teenager.

As well as next month’s European Championships, Simran is also gunning for the World Championships in August and the Youth Olympics which are set to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during October.

“I’m looking forward to going to Italy in April and hopefully I can bring back a silver or gold medal,” said Simran. “Everyone knows I want the gold – that would mean the world to me.

“My ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics.”

Simran claimed a notable scalp on her way to national success in Doncaster.

Having defeated Newcastle’s Sophie Rodgers by a unanimous decision in the semi-final, she went on to beat Birkenhead’s Great Britain international Chloe Watson to claim the title.

And if dedication and hard work count for anything, then Simran is set for a glittering career.

Having previously trained at the Len Woodhall Boxing Club in Telford and the Merridale Boxing Club in Wolverhampton, she now travels to Northampton every day to hone her skills at Kings Heath Boxing Club under the guidance of coach Arthur Daley.

“I used to train at Len Woodhall Club in Telford and the Merridale Boxing Club in Wolverhampton, but I like it at Kings Heath,” she said. “I’m enjoying what I do.”

Simran has a dedicated support crew as well with her family pulling out all the stops to help her achieve her dreams.

Her brother, Harry Dhillon, has played a key role and takes her training and assists on a daily basis.

She added: “I couldn’t do it without my brother. He takes me to training, and does a lot for me.”

Harry is more than happy to play his part and admits he is surprised at his sister’s success, especially as she only took up the sport in 2015.

“I’m amazed with her progress,” he said. “Because she is younger than everyone else, she goes into fights as the underdog and we end up surprising people.

“That was the fourth year running she has won the national title and we are struggling to get fights now.

“Nobody in England wants to fight her at the minute, unless it’s for a championship. We are all so proud of her.”

And Harry is hoping the experience of reaching the final in the last two European Championships will prove vital in this year’s bid for success.

“She lost in the 2016 final in Turkey and then last year in Bulgaria to a girl she has beaten three times,” added Harry.

“What she has achieved already is massive but she is determined the get a gold.

“We know she can do it. I think she got a bit too nervous in the previous two finals but she has more experience now.”

And this year would be the perfect time to strike gold with the global events to follow.

“This is the year she needs to win because to qualify for the Youth Olympics she either has to get a gold medal in the Europeans or a medal in the World Championships in August,” added Harry.

“The Youth Olympics are in Buenos Aires and we all want her to be there.

“That’s her aim. If she does well at the European Championships, there’s no doubt that she could go a long way in this sport.

“She wants to be on the podium with an Olympic gold. This could a life-changing year for Simran.

“If she could get a medal in the Youth Olympics she could get on the GB team and become a full-time athlete based in Sheffield.

“That’s the ultimate aim, go full-time, be on team GB and hopefully make the 2020 Olympics.

“The girl she beat in the national final was one of the favourites to go to the Olympics.”

With the Euros starting on April 17, Simran, who fights at 51kg, now faces six weeks of intense preparation.

“She has six weeks where she has a training camp every weekend,” said Harry. “She will train by herself as well , running strengthen and conditioning, all that sort of stuff.

“We also use Powerhouse Gym in Donnington to do some pad work and a bit of footwork. I also run with her and we just do what has to be done.

“And she will train regularly at Kings Heath Gym in Northampton.

“We used to train in a garage for the first couple of years and then looked at a few gyms but we went to Kings Heath because it’s one of the best in England. It’s an amazing gym.

“She is very committed. She dedicates her life to this.”