Daniyal Nottingham Junior Success
On Saturday 23rd August 2025, 10-year-old Daniyal from Stanmore Table Tennis Club produced a remarkable performance at the TopSpin Nottingham Junior 2* tournament. Competing in the Under 19 category—an age group nearly a decade above his own—Daniyal showed outstanding maturity, skill, and determination well beyond his years.
Despite the significant age gap, Daniyal won four of his seven matches, finishing as runner-up overall and proudly lifting the trophy for second place. His achievement was a true testament to his resilience and “never give up” attitude that has already become a hallmark of his game.
One of the standout moments of the day came against Max Rosenbaum, a highly talented player from Cheshire currently ranked 198 in the Under 16 category. The match was a nail-biter. With the scores level at 1–1 in games, Max claimed the third 11–5 and quickly raced to a 10–5 lead in the fourth, standing just one point away from victory.
At this stage, many players would have conceded—but not Daniyal. With sheer grit and incredible self-belief, he clawed his way back to 10–11 before snatching the game 14–12. Riding the momentum, he stormed through the decider 11–6 to complete a sensational comeback victory. It was a display of determination and mental strength rarely seen at his age.
Daniyal’s resilience shone again in his clash with Felix Reeve, an experienced Under 18 player with 341 ranking points. After dropping the first two games 11–7 and 11–9, Daniyal trailed 9–6 in the third. Yet once again, he refused to give in, turning the game around to win 11–9. From there, he maintained his composure to secure the next two games 11–9 and 11–7, sealing another hard-fought five-set triumph.
This back-to-back success against strong, older opponents perfectly highlighted Daniyal’s never-say-die spirit and ability to rise under pressure.
Alongside these marquee victories, Daniyal also overcame Jamie Clark (11–7, 11–6, 11–13, 12–10) and Adele Brown(11–6, 9–11, 11–3, 11–4), demonstrating both consistency and quality across the day. His final match saw him narrowly edged out in a five-set thriller by Lok Hei Lam, but even in defeat, his fighting qualities were evident.
For Stanmore Table Tennis Club, Daniyal’s runner-up finish at such a high-level junior event is a source of immense pride. At just 10 years old, he has proven that age is no barrier when talent, determination, and belief come together.
Head Coach Joel Fernandes, travelling back from the Lake District, made a special stop in Nottingham to watch Daniyal’s final matches and share the joy of his trophy presentation. The sight of Daniyal standing on the podium, smiling proudly with his silver trophy, marked a memorable milestone for both him and the club.
Daniyal’s achievement is not just a personal triumph but also an inspiration to all young players at Stanmore. It reinforces the club’s ethos—every tournament is an opportunity to learn, compete, and grow. His success shows that with courage and persistence, even the boldest challenges can be overcome.
Congratulations to Daniyal on this incredible performance. The whole club is excited to see what more 2025 has in store!
