Lilli and Maximilian Babak with Master Rienzi Trento in Busto Arsizio

TRIUMPHANT taekwondist Maximilian Babak proudly waved the flag for Great Britain after striking top spot on the winners’ podium in his first-ever international martial arts competition.

The talented eight-year-old was invited to take part in the Internazionali D’Italia Taekwondo Championships in Lombardy after catching the eye while competing for his local club, the Holborn Tigers.

And the then green belt with a blue stripe more than rose to the occasion as he toppled allcomers in the kyorugi, the Korean art of sparring.

“I won all of my fights and brought a trophy home,” beamed Maximilian, who lives in Soho and attends Soho Parish School. “I felt very good and wasn’t nervous. I enjoyed it.”

Already looking forward to more fights abroad, Maximilian added: “Maybe next time we can go to Pompeii for a competition so I can see the volcano. And if we go to a competition in Madrid I want to watch a football game!”

Master Rienzi Trento, who runs the Holborn Tigers, was so impressed by Maximilian’s efforts in northern Italy that afterwards he awarded his young protégé his blue belt.

He said: “Max and his sister Lilli were both invited to take part in the competition after winning gold medals at the British Taekwondo Autumn Open Championships, which were held in Manchester back in October.

Talented eight-year-old Maximilian Babak

Unfortunately Lilli was unable to take part because she fell ill shortly after arriving in Italy, which is a massive shame because I’m confident that she would have won her competition.

“Max had to take on two opponents who were equals: they kicked the same as him, they punched the same as him, they moved the same as him – it was a difficult situation to face but he handled it fantastically and came up with all the right answers.”

Black belt Lilli pulled the positives despite not being able to take part in the event, which was held before Christmas.

The 11-year-old, who also goes to Soho Parish School, said: “After my gold at the World Championships and my gold in Manchester, I felt in great shape and perfectly ready for Italy.

“Unfortunately I woke up very sick on competition day and I could not fight. We asked the tournament doctors for help and after checking me they declared I was not able to compete, which was very sad.

“I wish I could have fought, I think I could have done great. But even though I could not compete I am still happy I was there.”

Master Rienzi, 57, has racked up more than 40 years’ experience since first taking up taekwondo as a teenager. But even the 6th-dan black belt from Somers Town admitted that the trip to Italy gave him a brand new perspective.

He said: “It was a great honour to take Max and Lilli to their first-ever international competition. Watching Max gave me so much confidence in knowing that what we’re teaching the kids every week is good enough to enable them to compete against the very best in the world.

“I also saw different kicking and punching techniques that I will definitely be introducing the kids to this year.”