A YOUNG Thai boxer who dreams of competing on a world stage will get to do that next month when he represents Great Britain.

Aidan K Forster, from Ferryhill, County Durham, has been selected to fight for GB at the IFMA Muay Thai European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 20-year-old has been training in Muay Thai at the same gym - Phoenix Thai Boxing in Shildon – with coach Gary Mcallister since he was five.

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He first represented GB as a youth in the IFMA World Championship in Antalya, Turkey, when he was 17.

Then, as a senior, he won bronze at the IFMA Baltic Open in Vilnius, Lithuania.

“That first one was a massive eye-opener, how big and professional it was, the level of competition, how strict and disciplined it was.

“I probably wasn’t prepared for it and got beat in the first fight, but it made me a better fighter and I came away knowing I wanted to do it again,” he said.

Aidan was chosen to compete in the World Championships again, last December, but didn’t have enough time to prepare and fundraise for the trip.

Now he is determined to make it to the IFMA Muay Thai European Championships in Turkey, after again being selected, for a five day tournament in mid-February.

He has saved up and worked in a hotel last year to earn some money, but has given that up for now to concentrate on training and studying a fulltime sport and exercise science degree at Durham University.

The Northern Echo:

Aidan, who went to Broom Cottages Primary School and Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College, said: “It is all self-funded, the entire trip will cost about £2,500 so anything that anyone can spare big or small is very much appreciated.

“It’s my dream, it is what I have wanted and trained for since I was a child.

“I’m just a local lad trying to achieve his goals, representing his club and town and country and it would be great if people get behind me.”

To support Aidan, you can make a donation via an online fundraising page on Go Fund Me or contact Aidan K Forster via social media to discuss sponsorship.

The Northern Echo:

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