Haringey’s basketball teams won gold at the London Youth Games 2021 East Regional Basketball event at the Barking Sporthouse and Gym in Barking & Dagenham on Sunday.
Both male and female teams were competing in a Year 12&U outdoor 3 x 3 basketball tournament against other boroughs from East London including Barking & Dagenham, Lewisham, Enfield, Greenwich, Redbridge, Newham, Havering, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets.
Jaden Leslie, Omari Pond-McKenzi, Michael Osuji, Chukwudi Diorammi and Kamali Taylor were representing Haringey in the male competition, while Elodie Soteriou, Felcia Jacobs, Maira Mendes and Adaora Dioramma represented the borough in the female competition.
Haringey’s male team beat Greenwich in the final to claim gold, while the female team saw off tough competition from Lewisham in their final to finish in first place.
Chukwudi Diorammi, 16, who helped Haringey’s male team to victory, said: “We performed well. We played with a lot of energy, and we loved it. This is my second time winning gold at London Youth Games.
"The format was different this year, but it was a lot of fun. It’s great playing at London Youth Games. There’s always good energy and it shows all the potential we have here in London.”
Coach Franck Batimba added: “The team did well today. It was a slow start but, in the end, they came through. It was good to see them playing basketball again.
"Being at home for so long can affect your mental health in a big way and basketball is an escape for a lot of these kids so it’s great to have the London Youth Games back.
"The kids love competing here and they love representing their borough.”
The London Youth Games has been using the power of competitive sport to create life-changing opportunities for young Londoners for more than 40 years.
It has provided a pathway for some of the greatest athletes to come from the city.
Dina Asher-Smith, Raheem Sterling, Alex Scott, David Weir and Mo Farah all had the opportunity to represent their boroughs growing up.
Having been forced to cut short its 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, London Youth Games says it is delighted to be back delivering live sport for young Londoners at a time when they need it most.
Visit www.londonyouthgames.org for more information.
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