TEENAGER Adam Bolwell is hoping that he’s on the path to an international future after earning his first-ever call-up to the England cadet squad.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Trowbridge and is a member of Devizes Budo Club, received notification of his selection last Friday evening after impressing with a bronze medal at the Midland Age Bands Championships in Walsall and a seventh-placed finish at the North West Age Bands earlier this month.

Bolwell, who is a sixth form pupil at Clarendon Academy, had moved up to fifth in the British U60kg cadet rankings will return to British Judo’s Centre of Excellence in Walsall this weekend for his first national training camp.

“I was hoping that it was going to happen. I was really happy to get a bronze in the Midlands but in the North West championships, I was only seventh but I beat a few of the guys ranked higher than me, which I think helped me,” said Bolwell, who also trains once a week with Team Bath.

“I’ve had a few injuries recently. I tore my knee ligament, and last year I had a shoulder injury but fingers crossed I won’t have any more problems. I’m extremely pleased to have the chance to go and compete in Europe.

“It’s more about what you do in your 20s but getting in to the cadet squad now shows that I’m making progress.”

Bolwell trains under Jason Parsons and Mark Burbidge at Devizes and Adam Hall and Gregg Varey at Team Bath.

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