A Dundee teenager is fundraising to help fulfil her dream of reaching the Commonwealth Games next year.
Sofia Ramzan, 17, a member of Dundee Gymnastics Club and a current Grove Academy pupil, is aiming to qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in Australia.
The Broughty Ferry resident, who was the highest placed Scot in the British Gymnastics Championships in March, requires a score of at least 50 points in one of her next four competitions to have a chance of qualifying.
She is up against the likes of Brit Rebecca Downie, a double European champion and Commonwealth Games champion, who has also competed in two Olympic Games.
Though competition is fierce for a place, Sofia believes she can do it.
“I have thought about this for a long time,” she said. “Ever since I knew what the Commonwealth Games were, I wanted to go.
“Being around other gymnasts who have competed at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games just made me realise that it was something I could do too.
“Gaining enough points to be selected will be a challenge but I know I can do it because I have had good enough scores before.”
Having passed phase one of the selection process with one of the highest scores of any competitor, Sofia is now fundraising so she is able to attend crucial events in the qualification calendar.
These include the British Team Championships in Surrey and the Northern European Championships in the Faroe Islands.
She added: “I am fundraising now because everything so far has come out of my mum’s pocket.
“It does cost a lot for the competitions, the training, and the transport.
“I need to attend these events to have a chance at passing the last and final qualification phase, which begins in September.”
Mum Jayne, a school teacher, said her daughter’s commitment has been “amazing”.
She said: “She comes home from school and then goes to training for hours every night so she’s doing over 20 hours of extra work on top of all her school work.
“I really am so proud of everything she is doing, not just the gymnastics.
“We will find out on January 8 whether she has qualified but we just need a little extra help to get to the events first.”
To donate to Sofia’s Commonwealth Games mission visit www.gofundme.com/going-for-gold-coast-2018.
