ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: The Olympic silver medal success of Amir Khan, the British boxing sensation of Pakistani origin, has sent ripples of pride through his grandparents - although they lament he did not represent Pakistan.

The 17-year-old was the toast of Olympic boxing as he fought his way to the final of the lightweight category thus becoming the youngest ever British Olympic medallist.

"I would have liked Amir to have fought for Pakistan but since he is brought up in Britain and trained there it's a loss for Pakistan," Amir's grandmother Kulsoom Begum said on Tuesday.

"He is a cute child and told me about his punching ambitions when he came here four years ago." Like Kulsoom, 52, many fans in Pakistan feel that Amir's victory was a loss for their country and a gain for Britain.

During the world junior boxing championship in Jeju, South Korea in June this year, Pakistani boxing officials offered Amir the chance to represent his parents' country.

For a moment Amir was tempted, as the British boxing authorities, considering him too young, were reluctant to allow him to fight in the Games. But in the end, they relented and paved the way for Amir's Olympic glory in Athens, where five Pakistani boxers failed to win any medal.

Had he won his final bout against Cuban Mario Kindelan on Sunday, Amir would have become the youngest ever Olympic gold medal winning boxer and also emulated his childhood idol Muhammad Ali, who won an Olympic gold when 18.

"It is a proud feeling for me and I hope that my grandson wins more and more laurels," Kulsoom said. Amir's father Shajaad Khan lived in the small village of Matore in Kahuta district, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where he worked as a scrap dealer.

Shajaad unearthed boxing talent in his son after migrating to Britain about 20 years ago. Amir was ably guided by his father in his early days. He started boxing when he was about eight years old, Amir's cousin Mohammad Imran said.

His father says he was a "hyperactive kid" so he allowed him to box, Imran said. Like all Pakistanis he too feels proud of that Amir has Pakistani roots. "I feel proud that Amir won a silver medal in the Olympics and the best thing was that his mother and sister were waving Pakistani flags during the medal ceremony," said Imran.

"I don't think it is a loss for Pakistan, those who live abroad love Pakistan more than us," he said. Pakistani boxing official Shah Naeem said he has not seen a boxer so impressive at this young age.

"We saw Amir in South Korea and all of us were unanimous that he will go places," he said. "He has won, but not for Pakistan, which we feel is our loss as we have no medal to show from Athens." -AFP