BRADFORD teenager Harris Akbar is hoping for more medal success in Russia as he starts his Youth World Boxing Championship campaign tomorrow.

The 17-year-old faces Turkey's Bululcan Sahin as he represents England at welterweight (69kg) at the AIBA Tournament in St Petersburg.

The Bradford College student from Great Horton heads into the tournament in optimistic mood, having brought home a silver medal from the European Youth Championships, which were also held in Russia.

"I feel really good and training has been going well," said Akbar, who is among a team of eight England fighters going for glory.

"I am a bit nervous but really just want to get in there and do my business."

Highly-rated Akbar won the Young Male Sportsperson of the year at the inaugural Bradford Sports Awards in February, having claimed the only winner's medal for England in last year's Commonwealth Youth Games.

Mally McIver, his coach at Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy, said: "He has got a good chance of winning a medal.

"It will be tough. There are 48 competing at his weight, making it one of the busiest categories but with a good draw, he is more than capable of delivering a medal.

"He deservedly won silver at the European Championships in Anapa over the summer and it is great to see him step up to the worlds now."