BOXING: A TEENAGE boxer from Coventry has been selected to represent England at the upcoming Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas.
Aaron Bowen has been boxing for four years, competing in national and international events across the country on a regular basis to help realise his dream of becoming a professional fighter.
The 18-year-old has been balancing his work life as a plumber with his busy training schedule and social life to reach his current level, which will come under the ultimate test next month.
Based in Coundon, Bowen trains five times a week at Standard Triumph Club in Tile Hill – mixing running with hill sprints, sparring, pad work, skipping and the bag.
And his hard work is starting to pay off after he received a call last week which told the former Cardinal Newman student he had been selected to represent Team GB in the Bahamas at the games which starts on July 19.
Speaking to The Observer, Bowen said just getting into the Youth Games is a dream come true.
He added: “I can’t describe the feeling of being selected to represent my country.
“It makes all the hard work worth it and when I look back how far I have come it makes me very proud.
“From now I have got to continue training hard and I’ve been taking part in England training camps almost every weekend around the country.
“It’s been a great experience for me and before we fly out to the Bahamas we have a week long training camp in Miami.
“Hopefully that week will allow us to get used to heat while keeping sharp for the tournament itself.”
Now in its 17th year, the Youth Commonwealth Games was first hosted in Edinburgh at the turn of the millennium and has since travelled across the globe visiting countries including Australia, India, and Samoa.
The Games are held every four years and invites competitors aged between 14 and 18 to compete in the usual variety of sports such as athletics, archery, swimming, hockey, and more.
Bowen’s selection comes after he impressed England coaches at tournaments across the country, which led to him being invited to a selection process at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
He said: “I found out about my Commonwealth call-up just a week ago.
“For the selection process we had to travel up to Sheffield and when I found out I’d made the cut I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and family.
“I fight quite often at elite youth level in competitions and I have already won three national finals and reached five.
“I’m entering international tournaments too, it all helps with experience.”
The Coventry lad first started boxing after being encouraged to attend sessions by his friends, a move which resulted in the growth of a future star.
Aaron said: “I first tried boxing four years ago and have loved it ever since.”
