New Zealand To Host The ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships For The First Time
Press Release – Table Tennis NZ
New Zealand will field a 16-member team, with 11 athletes making their international debut and demonstrating the continued growth of Para table tennis in the country.
For the first time in history, New Zealand will host the ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships as part of the landmark 2025 Para Table Tennis Festival at Rosehill College, Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand (26th September – 4th October 2025).
This event will welcome its largest ever number of Para athletes with 48 participants from eight countries: Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and New Zealand. Among these are 15 Paralympians, who will compete for Oceania titles and qualification spots for the 2026 World Para Championships.
New Zealand will field a 16-member team, with 11 athletes making their international debut and demonstrating the continued growth of Para table tennis in the country. The NZ team includes Paralympian #230 Matthew Britz, who secured his place at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 by winning the 2023 ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Matthew Britz said:
“Winning the 2023 ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships in Honiara to qualify for Paralympic Games Paris 2024 was one of the proudest moments of my career and something I will always carry with me. That experience gave me the belief that I could compete at the highest level. Now I can compete in New Zealand in front of my family, friends, and community, and that is incredibly special. I hope my journey can inspire others through Para table tennis.
The 2025 Para Table Tennis Festival is hosted by Table Tennis New Zealand (TTNZ), in collaboration with Counties Manukau Table Tennis Association and in partnership with Manurewa Table Tennis Club and Rosehill College, Papakura, Auckland.
A Festival of Inclusion and Legacy
The 2025 Para Table Tennis Festival is more than just a world-class competition. In addition to the ITTF- Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships, the Festival will include a National Para Development Camp from 29th September to 1st October, followed by the New Zealand Para Open Championships from 2nd to 4th October, creating opportunities for athletes at all levels.
Izania Downie, CEO of Table Tennis New Zealand, said: “The 2025 Para Table Tennis Festival will deliver a lasting community legacy through the establishment of a new inter-schools table tennis hub in South Auckland. TTNZ will provide the equipment to set up the table tennis hub, with the Counties Manukau Table Tennis Association offering training, coaching, and ongoing support. This initiative will ensure the benefits of the Festival continue beyond the event and create new opportunities for young people to participate in the sport.
Hosting the ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships in NZ for the very first time is a landmark moment for our sport. This Festival is not just about world-class competition; it is about inclusivity, opportunity, and building a pathway for current and future generations of
Para athletes. We are proud to bring together athletes from across Oceania to compete in Aotearoa. This is about inspiring young people, growing Para table tennis, and ensuring our sport has a strong and sustainable future.”
Greg Warnecke, CEO and Secretary General of Paralympics New Zealand, added:
“We are delighted to see Aotearoa New Zealand host the ITTF-Oceania Para Championships for the very first time. This Festival is a celebration of Para sport and represents another step forward in creating opportunities for Para athletes. Events like this are vital for building pathways to the Paralympic Games, but just as importantly, they connect with communities and inspire people of all abilities to get involved. Paralympics New Zealand congratulates Table Tennis New Zealand on this achievement and looks forward to supporting what will be a truly memorable event.”
Paralympic Gold Medalists Begin New Journey in Para Table Tennis
Adding to the excitement, Paralympic gold medalists Tim Johnson MNZM (Paralympian #126) and Jai Waite (Paralympian #156), celebrated members of the Wheel Blacks team which won gold at the Paralympic Games Athens 2004, will make their Para table tennis debut on the ITTF Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships stage. The Auckland-based pair have recently turned their focus to table tennis, taking their first steps into international competition with the aim of one day representing NZ Table Tennis at future Paralympic opportunities.
Tim Johnson said:
“This is a fresh chapter for us. We’ve loved the competitive spirit of Para table tennis, and we’re excited to test ourselves on the international stage.”
He added that while Para table tennis is very different from wheelchair rugby, the preparation and mindset remain the same. “It may not be as physically demanding, but the level of cognitive focus is much higher. That is why we keep our physical fitness up, to help manage mental fatigue.”
Jai Waite added:
“To be part of another Paralympic pathway is special, and we’re motivated to show what we can achieve in this sport.”
Event Details & Further Information
Para Table Tennis Festival
Date: 26th September – 4th October 2025
Venue: Rosehill College Gymnasium, 5 Edinburgh Avenue, Rosehill, Auckland 2113
Events:
• ITTF Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships, 26th – 28th September
• National Para Development Camp. 29th-1st Oct
• New Zealand Para Open Championships, 2nd-4th Oct
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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