A weightlifting coach is appealing for help with funding to send teams of west London youngsters to two international tournaments this summer.
Former Olympic weightlifters Kazem Panjavi runs the Stars for the Future Club, covering a number of west London boroughs, which was recently awarded British Weightlifting Association team of the year.
He has identified two teams he wants to send to the International Competition XIII Intern Juniors Battle in Austria in May, and the 11 International Women's Weightlifting Grand Prix in Germany in May and June.
Panjavi wants to send a team of five to the Grand Prix and a team of 20 to the Junior Battle.
He said: “Stars for the Future is small but fast growing weightlifting club, and we have already achieved a lot of success.
“We work within schools to use weightlifting as a mean of strength and conditioning, which we find mutually beneficial as it not only gets young people into sport, but gives opportunities to identify talent early on, which is paramount to success.
“We want to continue building on the success already achieved, and we have identified talents we want to not only continue developing, but also to expose to international competition.
“But many of the lifters are from families that cannot afford to contribute to the cost of them participating in the sport, let alone the competition.”
Panjavi is reaching out to any business or body which can provide financial support, and is offering in return the chance to have a company logo on their kit, website and marketing materials – as well as being part of a team doing fantastic work in the community.
Anyone who can help can call Kazem on 07958 685884; email Kazem@starsforthefuture.com ; or visit www.starsforthefuture.com.
