A YOUNG boxer who had his hopes of competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games dashed by injury has become a knockout in the business world.

Ricky Singh, a 25-year-old championship winning amateur boxer from Irvine, had his fighting career sidelined by a serious hand injury.

However, resourceful Ricky used his recuperation time to gain qualifications and set himself up as one of Scotland's most in-demand personal trainers.

Now owner of Team Singh Personal Fitness, based at Hillhead Sports Club in Glasgow's West End the young entrepreneur is urging other businessmen and women to use fitness as a way of boosting productivity.

He said: "Over the last year I've been working with CEOs and Managing Directors who are tired and sore.

"I re-energise them and they feel able to give their business more.

"Imagine the difference to the Scottish economy if every business owner was able to give 5% more.

"More time, more energy - it would all make a difference to the bottom line and the whole country would benefit."

Ricky, crowned Scottish Asian Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011, says his adrenaline rush no longer comes from landing a right hook but from helping to improve other people's lives.

He said: "When you get the clients saying 'you've changed my life', I get the same kind of buzz when I was winning a fight.

"In boxing it's all about doing well for yourself but it's exciting helping people."

Ricky aims to attract a high profile client base and establish Team Singh as the premier fitness company in Scotland.

He said: "I'm inspired by a trainer from London called Matt Roberts and he trains a lot of the celebrities such as Michelle Mone.

"But I think I'm as good as him and I want people to say 'I want to train with Ricky Singh'."

chris.taylor@ heraldandtimes.co.uk