The participating associations were Northland, Southland, Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Counties Manukau, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Waikato, Waitemata, Wellington, South Canterbury, Canterbury, and Manawatū.

With the message “Serve, rally and smash your way to fun”, the initiative welcomed participants of all ages and abilities. From complete beginners to experienced players, women and girls stepped into a fun, supportive environment to try table tennis and meet new people. 

More than 300 women and girls took part across the country. Of those who attended, around three in five participants were new players.

Among the registered participants, nearly 90 percent indicated this was their first Women & Girls event, highlighting the campaign’s strong success in reaching new audiences.

From left to right: Promila Pal, Vicki Zeng, and Lorna Tavares

TTNZ CEO Izania Downie reflected on the impact of the initiative:

“We are really encouraged by the number of women and girls trying table tennis for the first time or returning after taking a break, many to focus on family and other priorities. For some people, particularly females, walking into a sports club can feel intimidating. This weekend is about creating a friendly space where women and girls connect, get active, have fun and make new friends, while doing something positive for their own wellbeing.”

A welcoming first step

For some participants, taking the first step through the door was not easy. Lorna Tavares from Counties Manukau shared that she felt shy and almost went home before the session began.

“I was actually shy coming alone and nearly went home. But I stayed, had so much fun, and I don’t regret it at all.”

Counties Manukau reported that four women and girls signed up as members following the event.

From left to right: Yuna Poon, Ferdyal Roberts and Brooklyn Toloa

A common theme across many associations was that mums, who usually bring their children to training, finally took the opportunity to step onto the table themselves. At Waitemata, Christina Bidwell reflected on her journey:

“I started coming to table tennis lessons with my son to support him. I actually didn’t want to learn at all. But being there, I started to try and began to enjoy it. Now he has moved on to badminton and I decided to stay and keep learning. It’s cool to see so many women learning today.”

Also at Waitemata, young participants Ferdyal Roberts and Brooklyn Toloa, cousins who discovered the event through their school, attended their first Women & Girls session. They were guided by 10-year-old junior player Yuna Poon, who helped them with basic techniques such as grip, stance, and topspin. Ferdyal described table tennis as “relaxing for the mind”, highlighting the positive impact the sport can have beyond physical activity.

From left to right: Barbara, Sandra, Kiki, Coach Liting, Krystelle and Mimi

In Waikato and Counties Manukau, participants also benefited from coaching sessions led by National Coach Liting Guo as part of the ITTF My Gender. My Strength. project.

Mimi Wang, part of the coaching programme at Waikato, returned to table tennis two years ago and attended the session alongside her daughter.

“It’s something we can now do together. I found the strength and conditioning exercises especially useful as they help prevent injuries. What stood out most was that Coach Liting gave me a personalised training plan based on my weaknesses, so I can continue to practise on my own after the coaching session.”

Women & Girls Have-A-Go session at Table Tennis Manawatu 

TTNZ would like to thank all 14 associations for their strong support and commitment in delivering this initiative. Their efforts in creating welcoming and inclusive environments played a key role in the success of the weekend.

The weekend showed that when the environment is welcoming and supportive, more women and girls are willing to take that first step, and many choose to stay.

This is important, as the Active NZ 2024/2025 survey by Sport New Zealand shows that females often face additional barriers to participating in sport.

Our nationwide Have-A-Go initiatives help break down those barriers by creating welcoming spaces where women and girls feel comfortable to try, connect, and continue their journey in sport.

📷Women & Girls Have-A-Go 2026
View the photo album here