Table tennis players from Barnet’s London Academy took top honours in the London North regional final of the Jack Petchey Foundation London Schools competition.

The host school won the Under-16 boys, Under-16 girls and boys’ Under-13 categories.

The competition, aimed at inspiring more young people to play sport at school, brought together 22 teams and 90 students from ten different schools in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest.

The Under-16 boys team included Charlie Austen, Karim Khassal, Gabriel Achampong and Omar Khassal, while the victorious Under-16 girls consisted of Rhoda Boadu, Georgina Jones, Hiba Feredj, Kyan Ogbe and Scarlett Ryan.

Boadu said: “I’ve been playing for two years. It’s a really good sport and what I enjoy about it is that you have lots of fun, take part in lots of competitions, win medals and trophies and get lots of training.”

The Under-13 boys team included Iggy Kalule, Albunit Uzan-Boshnjaku, Leandro Da Silva, and Eren Gozcu.

Project officer for the ETTA, Sophie Olyphant, said “This competition is aimed at increasing participation and awareness of table tennis in London schools.

“It means that for many it will be the first time in their lives they will get to play table tennis and for others it’s about being able to compete.”

All winners will now progress to the Jack Petchey London School’s team finals on Saturday, January 19.