The Barking Abbey team, who represented the borough at the London Youth Games

Girls from a Barking and Dagenham handball team triumphed at a London-wide sporting event.

The team, from Barking Abbey Secondary School, beat Hackney, Richmond and Southwark to win gold at a London Youth Games tournament at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, south London.

Ismael Arrate, who coached the girls, praised his players.

He said: “They worked really well as a team. They listened and managed to get great success.

“They had very good teamwork and cohesion and everybody got along and worked well together.”

The girls’ tournament impressed watching Great Britain player Louise Jukes, who said: “The London Youth Games is a properly-run tournament so it’s nice for them to win medals and be able to have everyone watching and encouraging.”

The London Youth Games in an on-going multi-sport event for youngsters aged seven to 18.