HEAVYWEIGHT Grimsby judo star Youcef Alfajare is targeting a place at the 2012 London Olympics after recovering from a horrific knee injury.

Alfajare's rise in the sport was brought to a devastating halt when he suffered a cruciate ligament knee injury fighting in Holland two years ago this month.

Youcef Alfajare shows off some moves at Grimsby Judo Club.

But now the 25-year-old player from Terry Alltoft's stable in Sutcliffe Avenue is back in form and raring to make an impact on the mat at the Kent International on Sunday.

And ahead of the European Cup in Istanbul from July 18-21, Alfajare is determined to keep fighting to make the top.

The heavyweight has already reached the top of the British heavyweight rankings, but could face stiff competition from Edinburgh's Chris Sherrington – who he lost to in the English Open final – when the Olympics squad is selected.

Alfajare said: "It would be a great dream of mine to make the Olympics.

"The next few months will be important, with the Europeans coming up as well as the Welsh Open at the end of August.

"My main challenger is Chris, but I'm confident I can compete with him all the way if I keep fit and performing."

On his return from injury in March, Alfajare won silver at the English Open in Kendal before winning gold at the Irish Open.

Although he slipped out of last month's British Open in Crawley at the first-round stage, he hit back at the London International Judo Open by reaching the semi-finals – only a last-gasp error costing him the chance of a place in the final.

The heavyweight's form has led to a call-up from Great Britain's squad selectors for a training camp in Dartford.

Alfajare went on: "It was great to get silver on my comeback at the English Open.

"I'd been doing lots of work with Terry on my techniques and he was a great help during my return from injury.

"I trained a lot before my comeback, so I was feeling fit and fully recovered.

"I've just returned from a British training camp in Dartford where we did lots of work on techniques and sparring.

"It was really hard work but great preparation for the Kent International, so I'm looking forward to it."