Published: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 2:35pm

Kelty youngster wrestles with Commonwealth Games dream

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A YOUNG Kelty wrestler has returned triumphant from a major UK competition – and now has his sights set on competing at the 2012 Commonwealth Games.

Corey Keatings (12), of Keltyhill Crescent, won the British junior freestyle wrestling title in Worthing, West Sussex.

And he hopes his training with the Scottish Development Squad at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, will put him in good stead for the 2012 Glasgow games.

Proud mum Michelle (35) said wrestling was the ideal sport for Corey, who has Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), as it provided a release in a controlled environment.

'It"s great for channelling his energy into sport. Wrestling is not actually violent – there"s a lot of controlled aggression and it can be very tactical, which is great for him.'

Corey, a pupil at St Columba"s High School, Dunfermline, said he felt 'brilliant' about his victory and is now hoping to improve on his defence work to make sure he stays at the top.

'I had butterflies in my belly before each contest,' he said, 'but once I got into it I was fine.'

Colin McLaren, head coach at Tullibody Wrestling Club, where Corey also trains, said, 'Because he"s still quite light, we"ve found it hard to find opponents of a similar weight. He"s fought and defeated bigger guys and has great potential.'