We are incredibly proud of Daniyal, who produced a superb performance at the London Academy tournament on 6th April 2025, finishing 1st in the Under 11s and taking home the gold medal in Band 1. At just 9 years old, Daniyal continues to impress with his composure, tactical awareness, and ever-growing competitive ability.

The day began with the morning group stage, where Daniyal faced a strong set of opponents. He recorded wins over Lucas Leyens, Darcey Parker, Sara Maslina, and Ki Chi Damian Ng, finishing top of his group to secure a place in Band 1 for the afternoon round.

In the afternoon session, Daniyal stepped things up once again, recording a series of excellent victories. Most notably, he defeated Liam Higgins, currently ranked 10th in the Under 11s — a huge result and a clear indication of Daniyal’s ability to compete with some of the very best players in his age group. He also beat Odysseas Karaasev (ranked 33rd in Under 11s) and Sanav Sethi (ranked 6th in the Under 10s), further underlining the quality of his performance across the entire event.

Winning Band 1 gold in such a competitive field is no small achievement, especially given the number of high-ranking opponents he faced. Daniyal showed excellent discipline in his shot selection, strong focus in key points, and the ability to adapt to different styles of play — qualities that are developing rapidly through his commitment to training and competition.

This result adds to a growing list of strong performances from Daniyal at London Academy events. To win gold at this level, at such a young age, is a milestone that deserves recognition.

Congratulations, Daniyal — an outstanding achievement, and one the whole club is proud of.