Sheikh Shekh wheelchair athlete

On the eve of London 2012, 17-year-old wheelchair racer Sheikh Sheikh from Newham has been given a boost towards achieving his dream of success at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Newham Sixth Form College student is one of the inaugural recipients of a bursary from Balfour Beatty’s 16 for 16 scheme.

Balfour Beatty are distributing 16 x £750 grants to young Londoners deemed capable of representing Team GB at the 2016 Paralympic Games, building on their legacy commitments to support the London Youth Games through to at least 2015.

Sheikh, a three-times London Mini Marathon winner, trains with double Paralympic wheelchair racing gold medallist David Weir. The bursary will be used to fund the costs of training, competition, coaching, accommodation, travel and equipment. The funding was announced at a special Balfour Beatty Summer Reception at Westminster Abbey’s College Gardens last week.

“It is really amazing and a great achievement to win the award and to be amongst some of the best Olympians of our generation. It is a real privilege,” said Sheikh.

“The London Youth Games is where all athletes meet up and you get to know what athletes are the best, in my time.

“I won a few races and it was a good achievement that I am very proud of. To know that Dave Weir started off in the same way that I did shows what I can be in the future if I continue to follow in his path, it is a really good opportunity for me.”

To get involved in the London Youth Games for Newham, contact the Newham team organiser Lisa Brivati on 0208 430 2484 or email Lisa.brivati@newham.gov.uk to find out about local training or trials.