The 2024 XYZ National Table Tennis Championship recently has seen the number of junior participants increase, with over 100 athletes competing at the Rita Flynn Indoor Court in Port Moresby.
Tournament Director Rea Loi said all registered players were from the Nation Capital District (NCD) and Central’s affiliated Table Tennis Associations (TTA), which included: Tubusereia, Kadeboro, Gabagaba, Porebada, (Central); and Gota, Goralatana and Kavari TTA of Hanuabada Village (NCD).
“This championship included juniors, seniors, veterans, and para divisions. In the junior division, we hosted the U12, U15, and U18 Boys and Girls singles, including the Cadets U15s doubles,” Loi said.
“We had about seven associations that came and participated in the national championships during the three-day event in Port Moresby. All of them were from the associations within NCD and Central.”
He said the majority of entries were juniors as they looked to create a pathway for emerging table tennis talents within the local competitions.
“It’s very important that we have to create a pathway for some of our juniors in talent identification and preparation for future events,” said Loi.
“More importantly, we have to reach out to the other regions and start the competition and run tournaments to select our team and prepare for future regional events as well.”
Loi also extended his gratitude to their naming rights sponsor XYZ Construction Ltd for coming on board to support the championship, and to PNG TT Federation President George Shao, PNG Sports Foundation, PNG Olympic Committee, and everyone who came out to show support during the championships.
Meanwhile, in the nationals (junior divisions), it was an all-Kavari TTA affair that saw Mysel Hila defeat Kelly Alois 2-1 (11-7, 11-6) to claim the U12 Boys Singles national title. Hila also went on to claim the U15 Boys Singles titles over Mea Alois (Kavari) 2-0 (11-6, 11-6).
Team Kadeboro’s Shantelle Raka won the U12G Singles defeating Manoka Nou (Tubusereia) 2-1. (9-11, 12-10, 16-14). Nou returned stronger in the U15G Singles and claimed the national title defeating Makayla Loi (Kadeboro) 2-0 (11-5, 11-8).
In the U15 Cadet Doubles, Mysel Hila and Kelly Alois paired up and won the title against Goralatana’s Allen M and Jelico Vai 2-0 (11-8, 11-9).
Nou and fellow teammate Merolyn M (Tubusereia) claimed the U15 Girls Cadet Doubles against Wilma R and Naomi R (GOTA) 2-0 (11-5, 11-8).
The main junior event was the U18 Boys and Girls singles finals, which showcased future PNG representatives.
In the boys’ finals, Hereva Richard (Tubusereia) claimed the title over Jonah Loi (Tubusereia) after a strong 2-1 (11-6, 9-11, 12-10) contest.
Papua New Guinea’s current junior/elite representative Tammi Agari (Kadeboro) did not disappoint and got an easy 2-0 (11-7, 11-5) win over Makayla Loi to claim the U18 Girls singles national title.
In addition, four juniors are expected to make their debut in the 2025 Mini Pacific Games in Palau once the PNG Table Tennis Federation confirms a final team.
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