Ali on course for London 2012

In doing so he has become the first ever athlete from Northern Ireland to be accepted on to the World Class Programme and he is now using all of his experience to help develop athletes for the Olympic Games in London 2012.

This is just reward for years of hard work but such a high profile athlete will be missed from our sports scene.

Shaun Morley, the Performance Director with the British Wrestling Association, said: "An athlete like Mohammad doesn't come along every day, he's exceptional and this was demonstrated by the fact that he as able to capture the British title twice in the last three years."

Mohammad is now based in Salford, Manchester and his immediate plans are to prepare for a return to the international training camp in Vladikavkaz, Russia. A repeat to his last performance at the camp where he defeated, Zaurbek Sokhiev, the current world champion at under 84 kgs will undoubtedly earn him a 'wild card' entry to the European Championships to be held in Gorlice, Poland later this year.

When asked about the recent move Mohammad said: "Whilst I am enjoying training with the best wrestlers in the country, I haven't ruled out a move back to the city should the right opportunity present itself."

Members of the 'Sharks' are currently preparing for their own competitions and for the majority the Northern Ireland Open Championships in Carrickfergus this April are the target.

Club administrator, Cathy McCrossan, said: "We're lucky to have a strong coaching staff at the club and whilst you can never replace a wrestler like Mohammad, the remaining coaches are of a very high standard."

The Waterside Sharks Takedown Club has an excellent crop of young talent and many are expected to retain the titles gained last season.

Many of the young people train in both judo and freestyle wrestling and the club runs beginners classes for girls and boys in the old Clondermot High School, Irish Street, with Judo training takes place every Wednesday night from 6.30pm to 7.45pm, while Freestyle Wrestling sessions are held every Thursday evenings from 7pm to 8.15pm.

For further details and to follow Mohammad's progress visit the club's website www.watersidesharks.com.