Left to right:  Sue Jackson, Jean-Philippe Ehret, Daniel Wood, Tony McGurk, Barry Sklenars and Marcus Matena (Hawke's Bay)

The 2025 New Zealand Open Championships, held from 20-28 September 2025, was one of the pinnacle events on the TTNZ calendar. This year’s tournament featured 22 events across team, singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories, attracting over 135 teams and more than 320 singles and doubles entries.

It was inspiring to see many first-time participants stepping onto the national stage, gaining valuable experience and proudly representing their regions. Among them was Daniel Glenn Wood from Central Hawke’s Bay, marking the region’s first representation in more than ten years.

At just 12 years old, Daniel competed in the Under 13 and Under 15 events, showing great enthusiasm and composure throughout his debut Nationals. He recorded several group-stage wins and reached the Round of 16 in the Under 13 Boys’ Singles, while also teaming up with his younger brother Kaleb Zach Wood to make the quarterfinals in the Under 13 Boys’ Doubles.

Earlier in the season, Daniel made history at the Hawke’s Bay Residentials, becoming the youngest-ever A Grade champion in more than 60 years of the event’s history. He defeated Russel Winkley, the most decorated player in the competition’s history, in the final.  

Daniel began playing table tennis only two and a half years ago at the Central Hawke’s Bay Table Tennis Club and now trains seven to eight hours a week. His passion for learning and improving continues to shine through, making his first Nationals appearance a promising step in a bright table tennis journey ahead.

The Championships also saw strong participation from Northland, with nine debutants:  Oliver Emerson, Samuel Chun, Caeli Siwa, Khyl Siwa, Kylie Wall, Jaini Dave, Dhawan Dave, Aaron Kerbs and Jollienne Mangoroban and each one of them gaining their first taste of national competition. 

Northland coach Ricky Kumar said it was encouraging to see so many young players stepping up at national level. Ricky shared:  “Most of these players have only been training seriously for a short time, but their enthusiasm and commitment are impressive. The experience at Nationals has motivated them even more, and I’m confident we’ll see them come back stronger next year.”

 

Coach Ricky with Jollienne Mangoroban