Karate kid Niamh has her eye on the prize Fighter secures sponsor deal with Normandy
Craig Ritchie
An ambitious karate kid is aiming for the very top after receiving a welcome boost from a hotel team.
Fifteen-year-old Niamh Junner is a rising star in the sport having represented Scotland around the globe. And now following a financial boost from Renfrew’s Normandy Hotel, Niamh is targeting success at the Olympics and beyond.
Trained at Renfrew Sport Centre by Shitokai Scotland, Niamh has caught the eye as she has risen through the ranks coached by Martin Douglas and Stephanie Connell.
This has seen her represent Scotland in Germany and Austria, as well as a weekend appearance in Sofia, Bulgaria.
However, with no financial backing available to competitors looking to excel, the Normandy have stepped in to lend the youngster a hand, much to the delight of Niamh and mum Lesley Anne.
Lesley Anne explained: “There is no funding available to the kids taking part in karate, so it is all down to self-funding and sponsors to fund their events.
“Thankfully, the Normandy have stepped in to help fund Niamh’s trips.
“She really enjoys the sport and she has really excelled, competing abroad in Austria, Germany and Poland.
“She keeps getting better and she has really high ambitions to succeed in every competition she takes part in.
“It was announced after the Rio Olympics that karate would be an Olympic sport in 2020, so that would always be the dream.
“Hopefully that brings more funding with it, and hopefully it would mean that competitions were fully funded.
“We are all extremely proud of what she has achieved so far.
“It can’t be overstated that the funding from the Normandy Hotel is absolutely massive, and we can’t thank them enough for their support.
“Their help and backing has been invaluable to Niamh and the rest of us and without their help this wouldn’t all be possible.”
Niamh, from Barrhead, trains endlessly throughout the week at the Renfrew hub, where the rest of her family also take part.
Dreams of the Olympics may be in the pipeline and she is also aiming for a spot on the team for the Youth Olympics in Argentina next year.
To compete, players must submit a CV to the sports governing body, where they then cherrypick the competitors to represent.
And Niamh is delighted with the support that she has received, adding: “I am so thankful to the Normandy for all of their help, it means so much to be able to be able to compete in all of these events.
“Their help goes a long way to helping with everything that comes with competing at all of these tournaments.
“The support from them as well my coaches Martin and Stephanie has been fantastic, and I am just so thankful for that.”