After the surprise exit of the top seed in the Quarter-finals, Nathaniel Smith claimed the Under 19 boys title with a tough 5-set win over this Fusion team-mate Carl Pangalinan.
Under 17 Girls
Serene Rahmani-Walentynska completed a Cadet/Junior double by winning the Under 17 Girls title by beating Ruby Gandi-Bamidele in the final.
Under 17 Boys
Louis Green took the title by beating Yacoub Rahmani-Walentynski in 5 sets.
Under 15 Girls
In a reduced field, Serene Rahmani-Walentynska took the title in the final match, by beating silver medalist Isabelly Lorrana.
Under 15 Boys
Parsia Ashani took full of advantage of being a late replacement by winning gold. He did it hard way in the knock-out rounds, beating Yacoub Rhahmani-Walentynski, Dhruv Datta, and then Ollie Hensel in the final, all in 5-set matches.
Under 13 Girls
Alexia-Bianca Ciobanica came from behind to take the title from Cindy Xiao in 5 sets.
Under 13 Boys
Dominic Rimmy and Daniel Pavia were the finalists int he Under 13 Boys after top seeds Christopher Darby and Gabriel Church went out int he Quarter-finals. Dominic took the title, winning 13-11 in the fifth set.
Under 11 Mixed
Regular medalist, Sanav Sethi, claimed the gold medal in the Under 11 Mixed competition with a clean weep in Division 1. Swara Mahabhashyam took the silver medal by beating Kush Jadeja, who walked away with the bronze.
He joined Jacob Dennison, Bethany Yang, Zach Sarri & Serene Rahmani-Walentynska, as our first winners of the new year.
Under 15 Boys
Nishil Shah won his second Under 15 title in a row by beating 5th seed Adam Riadi in 5 sets in the Final. With the top seed having dropped out with injury, Yorkshire's Harry Tomlinson became the favourite on paper.
However, he went out in the Semi-finals to Shah, also in 5 sets. Adam reached the final by narrowly beating Parsia Ashani, also in 5 sets, in the other Semi-final.
Under 15 Girls
Serene Rahmani-Walentynska took the Under 15 Girls with a 4 set win over her team mate, Ruby Gandi Bamidele. Serene reach the final by beating Samar Benmhamedi in the Semis, while Ruby beat Isabelly Lorrana.
Under 13 Boys
Zach Sarri had a successful return to the Under 13 Boys division, beating December's winner Christopher Darby in 5 sets. To reach the final, Zach had to overcome the top seed, Lev Sahmurov, in the semi-finals, whereas Christopher needed 5 set to overcome a determined Daniel Pavia.
Under 13 Girls
Bethany Yang took the gold by beating Alexia Ciobanica in straight sets. Bethany beat Tejasri Naeula in straight sets to reach the final. Alexia needed 4 sets to get past Suhayla Ali Farah in the other Semi.
Under 11 Mixed
Jacob Dennison traveled from Lancashire to London and took the gold with a clean sweep of the Under 11 Division. He only lost 1 set in 8 matches throughout the day. That single dropped set came in his final match against runner-up Daniyal Janmohamed.
The Under 13 Boys was won by top seed Dimitar Dimitrov with a perfect run through the singles, culminating in a 3-0 victory over 3rd seed Saisurya Kumar.
The under 13 Girls title was taken by 3rd seed Isabella Xiao Xu, who beat her London Academy team mate and 2nd seed, Serene Rahmani-Walentynska 3-1 in the final. Top seed Amber Lemmon lost in the Quarter Finals to Serene.
The Under 15 Boys final saw Dimitar Dimitrov return to the show court as 2nd seed to take on the top seed Kai Lun Chow. Kai Lun took the title in 4 sets.
The Under 15 Girls Final saw 3rd seed Amber Lemmon face off against the home based 4th ranked Chi Yin (Gianna) Pang. Amber had reached the final with a win over the favourite, Soraya Rahmani-Walentynska, but in the final Gianna's pace and power won out in 4 sets.
Sunday saw the Under 19s take their turn in the spotlight. In the Boys final 3rd seeded Olivier Chu overcame 5th seed Janak Shah in 4 sets.
In the Girls Final, top seed Hannah Silcock beat the Under 15 Girls champions and 7th seed, Chi Yin (Gianna) Pang in 4 sets.
The Outreach Championship tournaments are designed to allow every player to take part in a meaningful competition at their own level. Last year we awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to players in 44 separate competitions, with competitors ranging from beginners to some of the the best juniors in England.
Every single match win counts towards each player’s points total and we also award points for participation/attendance.
Online entries must be completed by 6:00pm, Tuesday 28th October.
Every year we award 2 championship trophies to players in our S-Tier and A-Tier competitions.
Practice / Registration starts at 9:00am. Competition start time is 10:00am and will finish around 4:00pm.
Players must wear sports clothing (T-shirt & shorts or tracksuit bottoms) on the day. No white or light coloured T-shirts are allowed.
Your child will need a packed lunch/drinks. Parents are welcome to come along to watch/support their child while taking part in the competition.
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Yacoub quickly saw off the challenge of Ibrahim Hussein in the final with a straightfowrd three set win, while Soraya also had a 3-sets win over her club-mate Gianna Pang in the girls final.
Yacoub reached his final by beating club-mate Adam Riadi, despite the loss of the first set. Ibrahim faced Samvit Balaji in the other semi-final, also winning in four sets.
Soraya reached the Girls Final with a straight sets win over Daisy Watson, while Gianna had to work hard to see off Soraya's younger sister Serene in five sets.
Soraya went through the entire competition without the loss of a single set. Yacoub, on the other hand, suffered a surprise 5-set loss to Christopher Darby in his qualifying group, and only qualified for the knockout stages after a three way count-back.
In the Boy's Consolation Division, Max Drummond took the title with wins over second placed Rafael Hanzel Wacker and Christopher Darby, who took third.
In the Girl's Consolation Division Isabella Xiao Xu took the gold medal with a tough 5-set win over second placed Grace Liu. Greenhouse's Niylah Fernandez came third.
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The AIM Outreach Championships are a series of ranking league tournaments that take place throughout the 2024-25 season.
The Outreach Championship tournaments are designed to allow every player to take part in a meaningful competition at their own level. Last year we awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to players in 66 separate competitions, with competitors ranging from beginners to some of the the best juniors in England.
Every single match win counts towards each player’s points total and we also award points for participation/attendance.
Online entries must be completed by 6:00pm, Friday 11th July.
Every year we award 2 championship trophies to players in our S-Tier and A-Tier competitions.
Practice / Registration starts at 9:00am. Competition start time is 10:00am and will finish around 4:00pm.
Players must wear sports clothing (T-shirt & shorts or tracksuit bottoms) on the day. No white or light coloured T-shirts are allowed.
Your child will need a packed lunch/drinks. Parents are welcome to come along to watch/support their child while taking part in the competition.
A Tier Championship standings
Name
POINTS
Kiasha Beheshti
286
Sophia Shokoohideh
276
Stefan Bejan
240
David Ciurea
230
Elexsa McEwan
224
Sara Maslina
212
Raheem Attara amoateng
212
Ilyas Abdurahmin
168
Lily Henry Hoad
160
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World-Class Coaching, World-Class Standards
Led by a former World No. 1 and Olympic gold medallist, the Weihai training camp provided a world-class environment where players are held to the highest standards. Chinese coaches demand:
Elite physical fitness
Agility and sharp technical skill
Relentless mental focus
Total commitment from start to finish
Despite the intensity, our players embraced the challenge head-on.
From Shock to Strength: A Tale of Two Weeks
The first week was a steep learning curve. Our students faced long training days, unfamiliar routines, and world-class opponents. Muscle fatigue and tough matches tested their resilience, with only about 5% of matches won in the opening round of competition.
By the second week, however, our players had settled into the rhythm of camp life—training, eating, resting, and recovering with growing discipline and confidence.
Inside the Training Routine
Each day was built around a structure that prioritised focus and skill development:
Structured warm-ups and cool-downs
Targeted technical drills, often repeated to perfection
Multi-ball exercises to enhance precision and reaction time
The emphasis on repetition and fine detail—hallmarks of the Chinese training system—began to pay off.
Competition Highlights
In the second week, students took part in two competitive events:
Mixed Team Event Teams combined London Academy and Weihai players, building a sense of unity and collaboration. Despite language differences, the students coached and encouraged one another throughout.
Singles Tournament A rematch of the week one singles event, this time the results told a different story. Several students posted even win-loss records, a remarkable improvement given the level of competition.
Reflections & Thanks
The final day was filled with gratitude and celebration. Our students expressed thanks to the Weihai coaches, who praised their effort, resilience, and growth. The transformation in attitude, performance, and understanding of what it takes to succeed at the top level was clear for all to see.
Thank You to Our Hosts
We extend our deepest thanks to the Weihai Table Tennis Centre for their incredible hospitality—from airport pickups to five-star accommodation and elite training facilities. Their warm welcome and generous support made this an unforgettable experience for everyone.
A Final Thank You
Thank you to London Academy for making this experience possible. It was an amazing journey—full of challenge, development, and inspiration—and one our students will remember for years to come.
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This city is home to one of the largest and most renowned table tennis centres in the world — and is also the training base of the Chinese national team, known for producing the world’s top players.
Table Tennis is not just a sport in China, it’s an obsession and a huge source of national pride. Few countries have dominated any sport in the way that China has dominated table tennis. Their absolute commitment to excellence starts in their training camps, where young players train harder, for longer, and with greater intensity than anywhere else in the world.
For London Academy’s players, travelling across the world to the Weihai Olympic Training centre, meant stepping up to a whole new level.
In their first week they would face lengthy training sessions with a higher level of intensity, and a culture the expects punctuality, excellent behaviour, discipline and 100% respect for coaches and the training environment.
In the United Kingdom, our players are used to dominating competitions wherever they go. China would be a different experience entirely and a real test of character. Here, they would face opponents and training partners of a much higher quality than ever before. Having gotten used to being the best in the UK, now they would be facing some of the most highly trained youngsters in the entire world.
Week One Overview
Our students have made a strong and determined start to what has proven to be a highly intensive and challenging camp. By the end of just the second day, many players were already experiencing muscle soreness and fatigue—testament to the demanding nature of the training.
However, this intensity is exactly what sets Chinese players apart on the global stage. The discipline, structure, and work ethic observed here offer invaluable lessons to our students.
Training Approach
The camp has been a masterclass not only in skill development but in the approach and attitude that defines elite Chinese table tennis:
Structured Warm-Ups: Each session begins with a meticulously planned series of warm-up exercises, ensuring players are physically and mentally prepared.
Repetitive Drilling: Morning sessions focus on a core set of drills, repeated daily to refine technique and consistency.
Multi-Ball Exercises: Afternoon sessions feature intensive multi-ball drills. Players feed balls to each other—a method that ensures every student gets maximal training time and improves their ability to coach and support peers.
Technical Focus: Many exercises may appear basic, but their effectiveness lies in their precision and repetition. Practice, here, truly makes perfect.
Competition Experience
To cap off the week, students participated in a friendly competition against several high-level local clubs. While our players did not win many matches, several came extremely close boosting their confidence and highlighting their rapid progress. The experience of playing against such strong opponents was invaluable and will serve as a foundation for the week ahead.
Hospitality & Facilities
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the host club in Weihai for their exceptional hospitality:
From a warm welcome at the airport with private shuttle service, to accommodation at a five-star standard hotel just 50 meters from the training facility.
The training complex itself is world-class—capable of hosting over 1,000 players at once across four interconnected halls.
Meals have been varied and inclusive, offering both traditional Chinese dishes and familiar Western options to keep students energised and comfortable.
Looking Ahead
The first week has been intense, inspiring, and full of growth. We look forward to seeing how our students apply what they’ve learned in the coming days. With the right mindset and continued effort, this camp has the potential to be a transformative experience for each one of them.
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With four National Titles secured at the Butterfly School Team Championships 2025, London Academy has once again made history!
At the prestigious Butterfly School Team Championships, held on 27th April 2025 in Wolverhampton, our young athletes delivered an extraordinary performance — bringing home an incredible FOUR national team titles and cementing London Academy’s position as the leading force in school table tennis across England.
A Golden Day for London Academy:
Under-11 Girls – National Champions! Our girls retained the Martin Foulser Cup, defeating Bankfields 5-2 in a thrilling final match. Winning Squad: Alexia-Bianca Ciobanica, Suhayla Ali Farah, Rea Kola, Iliona Kola, Darcey Parker
Under-11 Boys – National Champions! Regaining the Irene Elliott Cup, our boys showed absolute dominance, beating Fox Primary 7-1. Winning Squad: Zacharia Sarri, Dominic Rimmy, Rafael Hanzel-Wacker, Nicholas Andrei
Under-13 Boys – National Champions! A flawless performance saw our boys complete a perfect day — not dropping a single match en route to lifting the T Austin Harrison Cup. Winning Squad: Adam Riadi, Yacoub Rahmani-Walentynski, Stefan Pop, Lewis MacSween
Under-16 Girls – National Champions! The Mick Betts Memorial Cup returns to London Academy! Our girls dominated the finals to reclaim their title. Winning Squad: Sienna Jetha, Alisha Dutta, Mauli Shah, Naomi Adjei
Other Fantastic Results:
Under-13 Girls – Silver Medal Narrowly missed out on the gold medal after a brilliant performance throughout the event.
London Academy: A Symbol of Excellence and Determination
This success is a testament to the tireless effort and dedication shown by our young athletes week in, week out. It is also a reflection of the outstanding support provided by our teachers, coaches, school leadership, parents, and governors — who create the environment in which excellence is not just encouraged but expected.
Thank you to every single member of the London Academy community for your incredible support, encouragement, and belief in our children’s potential. It is because of this strong partnership between school and family that we continue to achieve such remarkable feats. Together, we dream big and deliver even bigger!
We couldn’t be prouder of all our players who represented the school with such talent, resilience, and sportsmanship on the national stage.
Special China Training Camp!
Looking ahead, 16 of our players have been selected to attend a special two-week training camp in China next month — the home of the world’s most elite table tennis players. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience world-class training, sharpen their skills, and continue their development at the highest level.
This just shows how much London Academy supports and values the growth of our students, providing them with every chance to excel and chase their dreams. We are extremely grateful for the Academy’s vision and commitment to nurturing talent — opportunities like this truly change lives.
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Melisha won her group despite a tough final match against Ruby Gandi Bamidele. A bye in the Quarter finals meant that she would face another London Academy player, Serene Rahmani-Walentynska, in the semi-finals. This match swung both ways before Melisha squeezed through 11-9 in the fifth set.
In the final, she faced yet another local player, Stanmore’s Maahi Malde, who reached the final by beating Greenhouse’s Niylah Fernandez. After the first 2 sets were shared, Melisha pulled away to win (9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 12-10) and take the gold.
In the Under-15 Boys Greenhouse’s Parsia Ahsani won his second Gold medal in a row when he beat London Academy's Connor Godley in the final. Having lost the first set to the left-hander, Parsia came back to win two in a row before Connor leveled in the fourth. The fifth, however, was settled quickly with Parsia winning 11-2 to take the title.
In the Semi-finals, Parsia had another 5-set win over London Academy’s Yacoub Rahmani-Walentynska, while Connor had a straight sets win over Chi Yin Henry Fung.
The Under 13 Mixed title was won by Christopher Darby who was returning from injury. He beat Darsh Gopal in four sets in the final. In the Semi-finals Christopher beat Joshua Freeman in four sets, while Darsh beat London Academy’s Nicholas Andrei in three sets.
In the Under 11 Mixed competition the title group was decided on a three-way countback between Daniyal Janmohamed, Jacob Vogl, and Odysseas Karassav. Daniyal eventually was declared the winner due to having the best set ratio, with Jacob coming second and Odysseas taking the bronze.
The Under 11 consolation group was decided in a head to head between Daniel Bordalo and Damien Ng when they both ended on three wins. Daniel’s 4 set win over his main rival gave him the gold medal with Damien taking the silver. Akira Bennatraj took the third with a head to head win over Luca Turner.
