Three young Cook Islanders will represent Cook Islands in the tennis competition at the 2023 Zespri AIMS Games in New Zealand next month.

Tennis Cook Islands Luca Rossouw, Terā-itirere-ki-Avaiki Rongo and John Tui-Tonga Gibson will be participating in the Zespri AIMS Games in New Zealand in September.

Tennis Cook Islands, Marcelle Rossouw says the AIMS games is a Sporting Event in September held in Tauranga New Zealand for intermediate aged kids with over 11,700 athletes from 373 schools competing in over 25 codes.

 Rossouw said this is the first year post pandemic that students from the Cook Islands will be attending, three from Tennis and 15 from Badminton.

“It will be their first time participating in the AIMS games – the competition will be strong but they are looking forward to the exposure and meeting some children from New Zealand - who do not participate in the Oceania Tournaments.”

She said the Tauranga community are hosting a special Powhiri for the international students attending and are very honoured and welcomed.

For Badminton Cook Islands, President Thomas Ngauru had earlier said the team will include Haize Gamez, Terito Napa, Makea Pauka Jr, Trudeinus Tuaputa, Edon Teraitua, Vincent Simpson, Talia Adams, Maraea Wichman, Itirangi Nicholas-Herman, Prince Strickland, Claude Simpson, Uhain Gamez, Siaosi Cowan, Raeyaan Narayan and Victor Anselmo.

“And Apii Nikao clean sweeped the Badminton Competition at the New Zealand Sports Camp winning five Gold Medals,” he said.

Meanwhile, a look back at Tennis Cook Islands Pacific Oceania Junior Championships.

Rossouw said in July, 5 children from the Cook Islands played in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships.

“These are children that progressed through from the East Pacific Qualifiers held in Samoa in April 16 children from the Cook Islands participated here.”

The Under 12s boys were Luca Rossouw, Mareko Webb and Harold Browne, Under 14 Girls were

Raetea Rongo and Luke Pierre represented Cook Islands in the Under 16 boys division.

 “The competition was very strong and our children played very well.”

She said Raetea Ronga was placed 3rd for the under 14 girl’s singles and 1st place in the under 14 girls doubles with her Tahitian partner Mia Chang.