WORCESTER athletic ace Sam Khogali is stepping up his international involvement.

The long jump competitor, 21, has been called up for Great Britain for the 2019 Summer Universiade in Napoli which runs from Wednesday for a week-and-a-half.

The Loughborough University student has made big strides forward this season, jumping well indoors with a personal best of 7.40 metres in Sheffield at the BUCS Championships in February.

And he improved further with a big outdoors PB of 7.75m at April’s Maltese Athletics Challenge Meeting which put him fourth in the United Kingdom and in the European top 10.

Khogali gained his full England senior vest for May’s Loughborough International and won with a jump of 7.56m.

On the world summer university games opportunity in Italy, he said: “This is a dream come true and something I have been working towards for the last four years of my life.”

His father Saib said: “This is a great honour and privilege which he is humbled by.

“Sam is very grateful to everybody who has been part of his journey over the past six-plus years.”

Worcester-born Khogali attended Redhill Primary School and King’s School Worcester.

He became an accomplished rugby wing in the King’s first XV and his pace led him to attend Worcester Athletic Club as a potential sprinter and long jumper.

Khogali broke the 26-year King’s record for long jump aged 17 with 7.20m.

The city club’s Mike Bennett was instrumental in his development and success which included being crowned county and Midland schools champion.

Khogali earned the first of two England junior vests aged 17 before heading to Loughborough to study sports and exercise science.

He has continued his training with England coach Femi Akinsanya.

During his first year in 2016, Khogali was on course to win the England Under 20 Championships only to seriously tear his hamstring during competition.

He endured a long rehabilitation and recovery with various setbacks on the way.

In his third year Khogali made good progress and jumped a PB of 7.28m with a silver medal at the England Under 23 Championships in Bedford in June 2018.

But the athlete admitted: “I have subsequently re-torn the hamstring on and off throughout the last three years, stopping me from ever getting a good block of training in but still allowing me to compete, albeit not very well.

“I have had six hamstring tears in total over the last three years.”

Khogali has also represented London’s Woodford Green in the British Athletics League Division Premiership.

For the university games in Napoli, the student athletes fund 50 per cent of their costs which amounts to £1,750 for Khogali.

He has set up a Go Fund Me page at gofundme.com/world-uni-games-napoli-2019?