Yafai not watching the clock ahead of London 2012 Olympics

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

THE LONDON Olympic countdown may duck under the two-year mark today but boxer Khalid Yafai insists he's happy to wait for the greatest show on earth.

NO RUSH: There is two years to go until the London 2012 Olympics but Khalid Yafai is in no rush to get to London 2012 (Getty Images)

Yafai made his Olympic debut as a fresh-faced 19-year-old in 2008, with the flyweight losing out to Cuban veteran and eventual silver medallist Andris Laffita Hernandez in the round of 16.

Now 21, the Birmingham City ABC boxer is in a different proposition and underlined his talent at the European Championships in Moscow last month where he claimed silver, losing out to home favourite Misha Aloyan in the final.

And despite admitting he can't wait for a second bite at Olympic gold, Yafai is adamant he is happy to bide his time and ensure he is at his peak by the time the Games arrive in 2012. 

"When I am training for a major competition London 2012 is always in my head because they are a step forward to the Games," he said.

"The Europeans were a big step forward to London to show everyone else in the team and the coaches that I am capable of getting a medal.

"It's going to be unbelievable but I am not in a rush for London 2012 to come next week.

"I have just turned 21.  I boxed in the semi final at the Europeans on my birthday so I am young right now. Come London 2012, I'll just be 23 and fully matured.  There are other tournaments to get under my belt and I'm not in a rush.

"I had only just turned 19 in Beijing but now I am starting to mature and begging to hit my peak. 

"I was basically a kid in Beijing and I didn't know what to expect because it was a big occasion and an unbelievable experience for me.

"But I don't think anybody can forget going to an Olympic Games and it was something different that I had never experienced and something that I am glad I have done because I'll be ready for that kind of occasion again in London."