Eight-year-old chess champion and litter picker give brilliant responses after winning Crawley Community Awards

SussexWorld

The Crawley Community Awards 2025 took place this week. Here is Sporting Achievement winner Aarav Ghanshala and Special Recognition Sandra Soper winner receiving their awards and giving brilliant responses

Transcript

00:00...team to represent the county at National Chess Tournament.

00:07Araf began playing chess in November 2024.

00:10Before that, he played casually on a mobile app and had limited knowledge of the game.

00:15However, in November 2024, he attended his first tournament and became the underweight champion,

00:21which was a significant surprise for his family and the Sussex Junior team manager.

00:25The manager advised them to support Araf further, recognising his great talent.

00:29Consequently, he started visiting a local chess club where everyone was amazed by his rapid progress in just two months.

00:36On the 1st of January 2025, Araf participated in his second tournament,

00:41scoring four out of six wins and successfully defending his under-8 Sussex Junior chess title.

00:47Following his outstanding performance in these tournaments and training sessions,

00:50Araf was selected for the Sussex Junior under-9 team on his birthday, January 19th, 2025.

00:56He is now officially representing Sussex County in national-level tournaments.

01:01Wow.

01:02Wow.

01:10Cool.

01:11Well, congratulations, young man.

01:14Now, how does it feel for you to win this award?

01:16It feels really nice.

01:18Now, you know, athletes who do, let's say, running and football,

01:27they come away with injuries and sometimes strains.

01:30After you've played a lot of tournaments, how do you feel after you've played lots of tournaments?

01:34I feel like I'm going to win a trophy or not.

01:37I'm going to be angry.

01:42Well, congratulations.

01:44And I'll tell you what, we all get behind you and wish you the very best.

01:48And we'll look out for you punching that clock and winning as many chess tournaments as you can.

01:51Congratulations, Aaron.

01:52Well done.

02:23Congratulations, Sandra.

02:33I think I just called you Sandra.

02:35Sandra, congratulations.

02:37You are the kind of person, so I'm so glad to believe, that did not look for thanks or recognition.

02:42So what does this award mean to you?

02:44Oh, that's a shock.

02:46I'm very grateful.

02:47I'm grateful for my son of nominating me.

02:50And I'm grateful for all the little apps that have got me a word for them.

02:56Yeah, it keeps you very much so to keep my busy.

02:58Do you not ever look at the weather on a bad day and go, nah, someone else can do it today?

03:06No, because I've got dogs, sometimes two dogs that have to be walked every day.

03:11So I'm out for an hour, an hour and a half a day.

03:14And you can use each of them just to pick up something as well, take a camera and make it, whatever.

03:19Dogs and a litter checker.

03:20Perfect.

03:21Well, absolute congratulations and well done for your recognition.

03:24Sandra Soap, everybody.

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