Maaz Bin Saud - BASA Junior Sports Personality of the Year

Meet the 10-year-old kickboxing sensation who lit up the stage after taking home the Junior Sports Personality of the Year title at the 10th annual British Asian Sports Awards (BASA).

BRITAIN has produced a number of kickboxing world champions over the years.

Two of the biggest exponents from the Asian community are four-time world title holder Kash "The Flash" Gill and his protégé Sunny "The Hitman" Hira, who has won three world championships in his career.

Another name can be added to that illustrious list, in the shape of 10-year-old Maaz Bin Saud.

The pint-sized fighting machine from Liverpool has made quite an impact over the past two years and has accumulated quite an impressive trophy collection.

The one accolade which sits pride of place is the gold medal he picked up at the World Kickboxing Council (WKC) Championships in Portugal last November.

The victory over fellow English fighter Andrew Bryce-Lambert in the 30kg category saw him crowned the youngest-ever kickboxing world champion in the country.

It was one of the highlights of 2010 for the Mushin Kai Kickboxing Club fighter, who had achieved top-three finishes in a number of tournaments including the British Open Championships, English National Championship, and the MAI Open Championship.

Maaz has a reputation for being an attacking fighter who takes no prisoners and has defeated opponents from around the world while representing England.

And last week, Maaz added another prestigious trophy to his ever-growing collection after taking home the Junior Sports Personality of the Year title at the British Asian Sports Awards (BASA).

The youngster beat Leyton Orient footballer A'ameer Kstantin Murphy and rising badminton talent Ira Banerjee to the coveted title which has previously been won by the likes of Taekwondo star Viroshan Gnanapandithan and cricketer Junaid Nadir.

"It’s an incredible honour and it’s great to win such a prestigious award," said Maaz after picking up the award in front of a star-studded audience which included big names from the world of showbiz, sports and politics who came out to help BASA celebrate 10 years of recognising and rewarding talent.

“It feels like a real recognition for the effort I have put in kickboxing the last two-and-a-half years. I want to thank the Almighty for giving me the strength to compete and also to my family who have supported me in my career.

"I also want to thank everyone who voted for me and helped me win this award.

“The British Asian Sports Awards is the best way to promote the iconic values of the greatest and best British Asian sporting heroes.”

He added that winning the award had provided him with extra motivation to continue aiming high in the world of kick-boxing.

Maaz also used the awards to encourage other youngsters to take up sport and follow in his footsteps.

“British Asians youngsters should take part in sports because it keeps them busy and they can take my example that if I can win the World Championship, any other kid can win it if they work hard.”

While most people would sit back and reflect on winning such a big award, Maaz is set to return to his normal routine of training five times a day and dreaming of progressing in the world of kickboxing.

By Zohaib Rashid