Medals galore for Bad Company's super six Thai boxing stars in Verona

Six Thai boxers from Leeds gym Bad Company won medals at the WBC international championships held in Verona, Italy, as part of Team England led by their coaches Lisa Houghton-Smith and her husband Richard.

- by James Bovington

The English team came first in the medal table of over 70 countries represented by 900 athletes. "Everyone's overjoyed," said Richard Smith. "Team England smashed it with 54 fighters winning 86 of 113 bouts and coming away with 44 medals including 24 gold.

"Bad Company's Fergus Smith, Charlie Bedford and Keevah Render won golds with a silver for Cade Smith and bronzes for Cole Chapman and Logan Smith. Harper Render performed confidently in her demonstration bouts. We're proud of them for shining in a tournament with an increasingly impressive performance standard."

Keevah Render, 12, was proud of her gold medal display. She said: "I enjoyed the build up to the competition and then making friends and supporting teammates despite the heat."