Leyton fencer still focused on 2016 Games

Leyton fencer Amol Rattan insists having to settle for silver at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Sheffield will not dim his 2016 Olympic ambitions.

Rattan was pipped by England teammate Kristjan Archer in the final of the individual foil but bounced back to claim team gold along with Archer, defeating Scotland in the final 45-31.

And while Rattan was left disappointed after missing out on the individual crown, he maintained that he had enjoyed his first taste of the Sainsbury’s UK School Games.

“I’m aiming to go for 2016,” said Rattan. “Nothing is impossible, it’s down to training and working hard and well and hopefully 2016 is what I aspire to.

“I really enjoyed it. I was aiming to win obviously so that is disappointing. In the team event we were expecting to win but I was hoping to win the individual event as well.

“My first match was a bit shaky, but the more I went through the tournament the more I got into it.

“This is my first UK School Games and it’s fun and exciting, because it’s really professional it’s a good experience. The village is pretty good as well.

“You get into that mindset with all the athletes together, it feels like you’re at a professional event.”

With the fencing season just beginning, the Ilford County School pupil is confident he is on course for a successful year.

And with the National Championships coming up the 17-year-old is desperate to find his form and follow up his double British youth crowns won this year and last year.

“It’s a good start to the season, because we’ve got competitions from next week onwards, so it’s good preparation for the rest of the season,” he added.

“We’ve got a domestic event next week in London and then in a couple of weeks it’s the National Championships so I’m hoping to do well there and get a medal.”