A READING man has made it into an international team after winning silver medal at the British Wrestling Championships.

Denzel McLaren made it on the podium after coming in second place at a competition that sees the “best wrestlers in the country competing”.

Speaking about the competition, held in Manchester on June 10, Denzel said he “felt tense and full of energy leading up” to the event.

“I am very happy. It hasn't sunk in yet, but this win opens a lot of windows. For a small club with no funding or backing, and started by myself, this proves a big point in the sport and the community to many who may have doubted us”, Denzel added.

Since his success at the British Championships, Denzel has been offered a space on the Jamaican wrestling team, giving him the chance to wrestle internationally.

He is the owner and teacher at New Sparta Combat Academy, a Reading-based sports academy, that "aims to create an atmosphere where we can facilitate sports activities such as martial arts, yoga, functional workouts, movement rehabilitation".

Denzel’s mother, Chrissy Desbonne, said: “This is a remarkable achievement from someone who has only been wrestling for about three years and currently under his business called New Sparta, train adults and children in this fantastic art of wrestling.”

Denzel is set to wrestle again, in a few weeks, in the 'Home Nations Cup' between Britain, Wales, Scotland & Ireland.