COVENTRY’S teenage water polo star Amelie Perkins is among 13 players to be representing Great Britain at the under-17 Women’s European Championships in Manisa, Turkey.
The competition, which gets under way today (July 29), will see Amelie and her teammates compete in the Manisa Olympic Pool against Europe’s best.
The team have been drawn into Group D and will take on Ireland and hosts Turkey today before facing Serbia tomorrow and Ukraine on Monday.
For Amelie to make the last eight her team must finish in the top two of their group and then defeat one of the remaining top seeds to progress.
The British team have been training together for the past two years, taking training camps in January and Barcelona earlier this month.
Earlier this year, the Observer reported that Amelie’s family had appealed for help so she could continue her dream having already incurred considerable costs through her representing her country.
Donations to a JustGiving page helped raise over £2,200.
In May, Amelie shined on her senior debut for England Ladies, scoring 11 goals as they as they finished second in the home nations championships in Dublin.
As well as her international commitments, Earlsdon athlete Amelie plays for Coventry’s water polo squad and a ladies’ national league team in Cheltenham.
Her father Troy said: “I’m immensely proud of her, she’s very talented but puts in a lot of hard work and sacrifice over the past three years.
“Now it’s time for her to shine on the big stage.”
