The ITTF Oceania Para Championships, held over the weekend in New Zealand, brought together 19 para-athletes from across the Pacific.
Together they took home a total of two Golds, five Silvers and nine Bronze medals.
Marking New Zealand’s first-ever para table tennis championship, the tournament welcomed six players from Tonga, five from Fiji, four from Tahiti, two from Tuvalu and one each from Solomon Islands and PNG. Teams from Australia and New Zealand also took part.
Among the Pacific representatives, six athletes received financial support through a partnership between PacificAUS Sports and ITTF-Oceania: Mere Roden (FIJ), Haoda Agari (PNG), Rodney Satini (SOL), Luani Moeakiola (TON), Ioane Hawaii (TUV), and Tanielu Soa (TUV).
CEO of ITTF-Oceania Scott Houston says, providing these opportunities is important for the growth of para sports in the Pacific.
“ITTF-Oceania has a footprint in all 24 Oceania countries and territories and can provide opportunities for Pacific athletes in their journey and growth towards 2026 Para World Championships, the Pacific Games, and the Paralympic Games in LA 2028 and onto a ‘Home Games’ in Brisbane 2032,” he says.
Pacific athletes delivered strong performances across both singles and double events, with Fiji leading with seven medals, including a gold in the Women’s Doubles WD10, won by Mere Roden and teammate Akanisi Latu.
Tahiti followed closely with five medals, highlighted by a gold in the Men’s Doubles MD20 won by Teva Yves Bu Luc and Manua Chariy Mazet Daudignon.
Tuvalu, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands also secured podium finishes, demonstrating the growing strength of para table tennis across the Pacific region.
While some para-athletes are staying back in New Zealand for a training camp later this week to further hone their skills, others will fly home carrying with them not only medals but also a deep sense of cultural pride and inspiration to continue growing para sports within their communities.
