KICK BOXER: Lakh Singh Athwal prepares for the European Kick-boxing championships

A YOUNG Seven Kings kick-boxer is preparing for the biggest day in his career as he competes at the European Championships in Azerbaijan.

A YOUNG Seven Kings kick-boxer is preparing for the biggest day in his career as he competes at the European Championships in Azerbaijan.

Lakh Singh Athwal (pictured above), goes into the World Association of Kick-boxing Organisation (WAKO) championships in top form after winning the British title in Nottingham back in February.

Lakh has been kickboxing since the age of nine and is determined to bring back the trophy from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan for Great Britain next month.

“This will be the first time I am going abroad with Great Britain and I have been training, for this event for the past three months which should see me at the peak of my fitness,” said Athwal.

“It is going to be the biggest and toughest day of my career to date and although I will be nervous I am going to give a 100 per cent to make sure I perform to my best ability, and as long as I do that I have a great chance of winning.”

The 20-year-old built on his British title win in the under-57kg light-contact category with a runner-up spot in a CIMAC league event in High Wycombe last month, which delighted the martial artist.

“It was a very tough competition and to finish second was a great achievement,” said Lakh.

“A lot of the competitors were ones I will be facing in the European Championships, so I can take a lot from it.

“It was the first time I have been able to face them and although I was nervous, it was a great insight into the strengths and weaknesses of all of the others competing in Azerbaijan.”

Lakh meets up with the rest of the Great Britain squad every month for a training session in London and coupled with his own preparation he feels it is the right mix.

Athwal said: “Training every month with the other team members is a welcome addition to my own work and gives me some experience against other top kickboxers.”