THE Commonwealth Games in Birmingham start tomorrow and Bradford has an athlete who is the favourite to claim a gold medal in his sport.

Boxer Harris Akbar will be hoping to end up as champion in the light middleweight division (71kg), fresh from becoming only the third Englishman to be crowned European Champion in over 60 years.

Additionally, in April, Akbar claimed silver for Great Britain at the historic Gee Bee tournament in Finland.

The Great Horton superstar begins his campaign for Commonwealth glory on Tuesday at the last 16 stage after gaining a bye through the first round.

If successful, the 23-year-old will be then hoping to progress to the final on the afternoon of Sunday, August 7.

A gold would give Akbar the confidence to push on to the main prize in two years' time.

He said: “Paris (Olympics 2024) is where I need to shine. The fact I have done it in majors before shows I’m capable.

“I just need to qualify for the Olympics over the next couple of years now, and it could be the start of something amazing.”