Amir, you're our hero

The nation had hoped he could bring back the gold after a series of pulsating performances which, in the space of just a few days, had propelled him from relative obscurity to the threshold of sporting history.

But, in the end it wasn't to be, as the hugely experienced Cuban fighter Mario Kindelan did just enough to stop the 17-year-old from Heaton from snatching his Olympic lightweight crown.

Amir, of Bury Amateur Boxing Club, was clearly disappointed, but Kindelan and his friends and supporters in Athens and back home in Bury and Bolton were quick to praise the youngster whose skill and warm smile had captured the hearts of sports fans around the world.

Amir's father Shah, dressed as ever in his Union flag waistcoat, said: "I am so proud."

On Saturday, Amir will be the star at a civic ceremony in Victoria Square, where the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Prentice Howarth, will honour him in front of thousands of fans.

The former Smithills school pupil is the youngest boxer to win an Olympic medal since the early 1950s. Sporting experts say he is now a marketing dream.

Amir is returning to England on Monday to a reception in London for the entire Team Great Britain squad. He will fly back to Manchester on Tuesday night, where he will be reunited with his family.

The closely contested final was watched by millions across Britain and 200 of his friends and family in the media room at Bolton Arena at Middlebrook.

Armed with flags, banners and T-shirts bearing messages of good luck, they drowned out the television commentators with chants of "Come on Amir".

With each point gained by the "Heaton Destroyer," members of his family gave shouts of encouragement.

In the end the Cuban proved just too experienced.

And after the final, Amir said: "I've done Great Britain proud and maybe at the next Olympics I'll get the gold medal.

"It was as I expected -- to go in the final and win a medal.

"I was calm because I had nothing to lose. I knew I was up against an Olympic champion so I went and tried my best.

"It could have gone either way. It's a shame I didn't beat him but never mind."

As he took to the podium to claim his silver medal, Amir was given a bouquet of flowers, which he threw into the crowd. They were caught by his older sister Tabinah, aged 18.

Amir's father Shah was astonished to hear millions of people back home had tuned in to watch his son fight.

He said: "It was incredible to see him in the final and when he threw the flowers he had been given at the medal ceremony, into the crowd and his sister caught them, I thought that was just perfect.

"A couple of the gold medallists from the 4x100m relay were there to support him and lots of other members of Team GB.

"They are all delighted with what he has achieved.

"Obviously when he comes back home this week he will need to have a break or a holiday because he needs to relax. Since December he has been working

and training hard and has had a lot of travelling to do.

"Everybody wants him and the press have gone crazy over here but it won't change him that much.

"It is good for amateur boxing and hopefully will bring people into it, especially in our area. I will still be involved with Bury Boxing Club and whatever happens in the future his coach Mick Jelley will always be with us.

"I will celebrate tonight and I won't be drinking even a little bit of champagne, but that won't make any difference to the celebrations."

Wanderers star Jay-Jay Okocha, who won an Olympic gold with Nigeria in Atlanta eight years ago, marvelled at Amir's performance.

He said: "I've been watching him and it's amazing to see a 17-year old boy go to the Olympics for the first time and get a silver medal. The way he fought was unbelievable. We are all happy for him and wish him all the best in the future. To win a silver medal in a difficult event is amazing."

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce confirmed Wanderers' plans to make Amir guest of honour at the home game against Manchester United on September 11, but urged the young Olympian not to let his success go to his head.

"I've heard him say already that he's going to wait a further four years to try to get the the gold. If he's as good as he is now and he keeps his feet on the ground he can go all the way next time.

"It has been a magnificent effort and we'll look forward to seeing him here with his medal at our next home game."

MP Dr Brian Iddon said Amir was a huge credit to the town.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted for Amir and his family, and all those who know him. He is a credit to Bolton, Smithills School, Bolton Lads and Girls Club and certainly Bury ABC.

"There are a lot of young people who look up to him and would like to meet him, and he is a superb role model to all young people, particularly those in the Asian community."

Cllr Paul Brierley said Amir had made people in the town "extremely proud to be Boltonian".

He added: "We hear a lot about teenagers in the news, but here is a lad who has shown that if you are focused you can achieve anything. Here is a lad who has just competed for the Olympic gold medal, and the first things on his mind are returning to college and passing his driving test.

"It puts his achievement into perspective."

Those views were echoed by Amir's family. His cousin Khalid Mahmood said: "In the family's heart to do this at 17 years old, it is the same as bringing us the gold medal."

Uncle Haq Nawaz Khan said: "He did a marvellous job.

"The whole family are very happy and it is great news for the town.

"He will be back in 2008 and will bring home the gold to Bolton."

Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield said: "It was a great performance. Any time you fight against a Cuban you are fighting the best.

"He's got a lot of great potential at 17 and at his size.

"Strength wise he has a lot of ability and he has the choice to wait four years to get the gold."

Team GB boxing coach Terry Edwards added: "I think Amir's climbed a mountain in the last couple of weeks.

"He has fully justified coming here and he's got a silver medal. We'd have settled for bronze."

Khan's club trainer Mick Jelley added: "He tried his best and has done British boxing proud."