A teenager who lost his sight to cancer is turning to the Land of the Rising Sun in his quest for Paralympic glory on the judo mats.

Nick Killen, 15, of Saltaire, is set to travel to Japan - the sport's birthplace - with Britain's visually-impaired judo squad for ten days' training with some of the world's top coaches.

Funded through the National Lottery and organised by the British Judo Association (BJA), November's trip is part of the squad's long-term preparations for the next Paralympics in Athens in 2004.

The pupil at Bradford's Temple Bank School for the blind and visually impaired has won a clutch of medals - including a silver at the German Open Judo Championships, his first international tournament, earlier this year - and is hoping to represent his country in Athens or in China in 2008.

Manchester-based Steve Pullen, who coaches and manages Great Britain's visually-impaired judo squad for the BJA, said: "The trip to Japan is a chance in a lifetime for Nick and other squad members.

"We'll be going to the Koden camp in Tokyo, which is known as the inner temple of judo and where the sport first originated, to get help from some of the world's top coaches.

"Judo in Japan's like football here - it's part of people's lives and there are clubs just for the visually impaired which we'll be going to for coaching and friendly competitions.

"It's the first time we've had a chance to take our fighters out there and it's a golden opportunity for them to develop their skills, increase their overall knowledge of judo and have a great cultural experience.

"We're into the long-term preparations for Athens now and the trip will help the squad gel together.

"Nick's a bright young lad with a lot of potential - our long-term aim is the Paralympics, if not in 2004 then in 2008.''

Nick, who hit the headlines nine years ago when he had to have his eyes removed to save him from a rare cancer, said: "I hope going out there will help me become a better fighter and help get me to the Paralympics.''

The teenager's proud mother, Susan Killen, said: "Going to Japan's a great opportunity for him. If he makes it to the Paralympics I'll be extremely proud of him, especially after everything he's been through.''