OLYMPIC gold medal-winning boxer Galal Yafai got into the ring with Coventry Boys and Girls Club as part of a ‘Boxing Mania’ event.
More than 150 children, young adults parents and carers attended the venue on Whitefriars Street to celebrate youth sports ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Galal, a former Solihull Jaguar Land Rover factory worker, joined a panel of young people to discuss avoiding bad influences, setting goals and working towards success.
The evening involved boxing matches and exhibitions while the Coffee Hub provided food.
There were also spoken word, singing and rap performances that were written by young members, while outside aerosol artist Graffix Art created a mural to show the role the Boys and Girls club has played in the community for nearly 90 years.
The event was supported by Birmingham 2022’s ‘Bring the Power’ youth programme.
Coventry Boys and Girls Club team member Scott Felstead said: “Seeing so many people having fun together after the lockdowns and solitude has been amazing.
“Everyone worked around the clock to provide this free event and we are incredibly grateful to ‘Bring the Power’, Galal Yafai, and the whole team behind the scenes that put this together.”
Galal, a former Solihull College pupil, was crowned flyweight boxing Olympic champion at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where he beat Carlo Paalam of the Philippines 4-1 in the final.
