Amir Khan’s Story.

From www.amirsfans.co.uk

History.

Shahjaad Khan, who, after wearing that infamous waistcoat, is now as famous as Amir, came to England in 1970, from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. On December 8th 1986, his first son, Amir Khan, was born. Almost eighteen years later, his son has become a boxing prodigy and is well on the way to becoming a household name. But how did he get there? Here’s some inside knowledge on our little hero. Amir Khan first got into boxing

Click for larger image © Mike Cleary

at the tender age of eight. He was a hyperactive child and, according to his father, “a born fighter”, as he was always getting into fights, at school. To help curb this, his father took him to Haliwell Boxing Club. From there he moved onto Bury Amateur Boxing club, where Mick Jelley coached him.

By the age of eleven, Amir was boxing competitively and he claims, “it has changed my life and kept me focused. All my energies are used up at the gym.”
At just seventeen years of age, his career highlights include, three English Schools titles; three Junior ABA titles; gold, 2003 Junior Olympics; gold, 2004 European Championships; gold, 2004 World Junior Championships, in South Korea and, who could forget, silver, 2004 Olympics, in Athens, which brought the young star to fame. He was also voted ‘best boxer’, in the Olympic qualifiers in Bulgaria. So, to say “It changed my life”, is somewhat of an understatement!
Education

Amir is in final years of studying his BTEC in sports development and fitness, at Bolton Community College. He has said that he would like to study sports science or physiotherapy, at Loughborough University, so that he has something to fall back on. However, considering the increasing amount of interest in him and the more then tempting offers to cash in on his fame and turn professional, how likely is this? When asked this question in Athens, he said, “I’m staying as I am.” During the parade in London last week, Amir indicated his Amateur status would remain until the commonwealth games, in 2006, but gave no further indication of what his intentions were.
Present

Since his return from Athens, Amir has relished his new superstar status. And who could blame him? At seventeen, he is living out the dream of every teenager. According to his agent, Asif Vali, the “interest in Amir has been phenomenal!” He’s been offered everything; from record deals to roles in films. Not to mention the hundreds of girls (most of whom have proposed to him on this site!) who, I’m assuming, are interested in more than just his boxing skills! Amir’s claim to “stay as I am” cannot be maintained and he knows it.
But behind the lucrative offers, the status and the screaming girls lies the face of a slight teenager that can somehow be perceived as both innocent and yet deadly. He doesn’t display the slightest bit of arrogance and has his feet firmly on the ground. “I’ve got a good family to support me and I’ll get a clip round the ear if I get too big headed!”

Amir doesn’t focus on the propositions, the fame, the money or even the girls! He just does his best to be successful at the sport he loves; and successful he most definitely is. When he went to Athens, he may not have realised, but he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wasn’t just representing Britain, but all British Pakistanis, who have become increasingly marginal in national achievement. Everyone in Britain, Pakistani or not, now claims a share in his success at Athens. He has provided youths with a role model and encouraged them to paticipate in mainstreamsports. But he needn’t get into the poiltics that are involved.

Amir Khan is a successful British Asian who is Muslim and proud of it. And so are we! He may not have won gold in Athens, but has most definitely won gold in the hearts of many, in Britain.

By Nadia Hussain.