PRESTWICH Arts College student Aref Akhoondi had a very different half-term holiday to most.

The young boxing prospect was invited to go to Russia to train with the Great Britain squad for five days in the city of Novosibirsk.

And the 15-year-old even won a medal for taking part in the light-heavyweight category.

Akhoondi has been proposed for the GB squad for his weight section for the 2016 Olympics, though he won't find out for some time whether he has been successful.

He has been doing Muay Thai martial arts training since the age of four and boxing for just more than a year, putting in eight hours training a week after school and at weekends.

Akhoondi said: “Boxing is a great way to keep fit and has given me lots of confidence.

“It keeps me out of trouble and I am going to keep training as hard as I can so I can go as far as possible in boxing.

“I am going to India in the summer and love the opportunities to travel that boxing has given me.”

College headteacher Chris Hornby is pleased to see one of his students excelling in sport and added: “We have a proud tradition of excellence in sport at our school and I have no doubt that Aref will fulfil his potential and make the Great Britain Boxing team for the next Olympics.

“He is a fantastic student, an excellent sportsman and a proud ambassador for this school.”