BRADFORD sportsman of the year nominee Muhammad Ali insists he now takes pride from his Olympic experience.

The Keighley boxer admits it took time for him to get over his early defeat in Rio last summer, feeling he had "let everyone down" when he lost his first bout against Yoel Segundo Finol.

But the 20-year-old now accepts that just reaching the Olympics – as the Great Britain boxing squad's youngest member – was a big achievement in itself.

That fact has been recognised by his inclusion on the shortlist for the 2017 Provident Bradford Sports Awards' top male achiever, along with Yorkshire cricketer Adil Rashid and England rugby league player Elliott Whitehead.

Former Ermysted's pupil Ali, who returns to action in the World Series of Boxing next month, said: "After I lost I didn't really enjoy the Olympics. I was just in my room not feeling too good, feeling like I'd let everybody down.

"Obviously when I came back, it sunk in that I'd been to the Olympics and not many others can say that. In the end, although it might not have been what I wanted, it was still a big achievement."

Ali was surprised but pleased to hear he had been nominated for the top male prize in what are the second Bradford Sports Awards, which will be held in a glitzy ceremony at the Bradford Hotel on Thursday, March 2.

He said: "People recognised it was quite a good achievement even though I didn't win a medal – it's nice to get that recognition."

A rapid rise to prominence after joining the senior ranks in 2015 saw Ali claim the Great Britain flyweight spot for the Olympics ahead of schedule.

He won the European qualifying event for Rio, prompting hopes he could follow in the footsteps of fellow Bury Amateur Boxing Club product Amir Khan by claiming a medal.

But after receiving a first-round bye, he crashed out by a unanimous verdict in the last 16 against Venezuelan opponent Segundo Finol, who went on to claim bronze.

Ali said: "Any other time I would have beaten that kid. I fought so many guys with that same style and beat them. They were not even close fights. I just had one of those off-nights, which I've not had many of."

It did not help that the 52kg boxer had to wait until day ten of the Olympics and was the last of the male GB squad to compete.

Ali said: "I was there for too long. If I'd been there for just four or five days before I'd boxed, I feel I would have been a lot better, a lot sharper.

"I was too anxious. I'd been watching everyone else box. Great Britain weren't doing too well, everyone was losing. I was nervous and started tensing up.

"When I went into the ring, I felt as if I wanted to kill him, I'd been waiting that long. I couldn't relax."

Ali is back in action at a World Series of Boxing fixture in Paris for British Lionhearts on February 23.

He is also targeting European and World Championships success at amateur level this year and has one eye on the Commonwealth Games in Australia in April 2018.