OLYMPIC hopeful and Taekwondo star Amarpal Singh collected a silver medal in the Scottish Cup at the weekend -- and claimed he was robbed of gold.

Representing England the heavyweight Tyldesley champion was stunned when his final was stopped in the first round and he was carted off to hospital by ambulance for an x-ray to the knee he alleged sustained illegal hits from his opponent.

Twenty-four-years-old Amarpal, of Crawford Avenue, who is aiming for a place at the 2008 Olympics in Bejing, said: "I was stunned. I had already beaten two guys and when the final was stopped I though what the heck is going on.

"I said I was OK but despite feeling fit to fight on I was taken to hospital. I feel cheated."

Amarpal, who trains with Paul Green, who will be competing for GB at this year's Olympics, had been hoping to qualify for Athens himself but his citizenship failed to come through in time. He moved to Tyldesley from his native India three years ago.

However, Amarpal who teaches the martial art in Hindley, and who has fought all over the world, recently returned from the International Taekwondo championships in Georgia with gold and in July will compete in Ilinois before going to Australia for the Master Games in November.

His student wife Susan, won the gold medal in the white belt plus 78k section in Scotland at the weekend.