Table tennis players holding their own

Top junior table tennis players from the Cook Islands are holding their own at international events in New Zealand where 13-year-old Christina Tua qualified to be part of Team Oceania after the Oceania Cadet Challenge.

Tua joins fellow female table tennis players from Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Kiribati and New Caledonia at the challenge.

Tua is part of an eight-member Cook Islands team in New Zealand for four separate table tennis events.

The local players are from the islands of Aitutaki and Mauke and include Lance Takaiti (12 years), Roland Tua (13), Aupuni Rota (14), Maara Tauu (18) of Aitutaki and Tauira Tararo (12), Christiana Tua (13), Temaui Tura (14), Kura Tararo (14) from Mauke.

The team took part in an international training camp and yesterday began competing in the World Cadet and Junior event along with 82 other players from 11 countries including Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Kiribati, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Norway, Thailand and the Solomon Islands. Team events have also started and will continue the next days before the singles competition begins.

Team manager Tearoa Iorangi reports that the team are having a great time meeting new friends in table tennis and gaining valuable experience in the sport.