South Island Individual and Para Championships highlight growing Otago community
The South Island Individual and Para Championships returned to Dunedin from 17 to 19 April at the Edgar Centre, bringing together players from across the country.
Leo Marr
This year’s event attracted 146 entries, up from 126 in 2024. Around 50 players were from Otago, showing strong local participation and continued growth in the region.
For local players, the opportunity to compete against top-level opposition on home ground was a valuable experience. It allowed emerging players to test themselves, try new aspects of their game, and gain confidence in a competitive environment, while also strengthening connections within the Otago table tennis community.
Learning from the Best, Close to Home
Otago player, Leo Marr valued the opportunity to take on stronger opponents: “It was really cool. It was really good to play different people that were obviously better than me. I tried out new things around my game, especially working on my looping on both my backhand and forehand.”
Graham Lee
A Strong Sense of Community in Otago
Graham Lee said the event brought a different level of energy to Dunedin: “It felt phenomenal. You do not often see top players playing right in front of you.”
He added that playing across different levels helped players improve:
“You could learn a lot and see your weaknesses, so you knew what to work on. Every ball I hit and every point I win is enjoyable. Most importantly, I can see my improvement when I look back.”
For him, being part of the Otago table tennis community means being part of something special:
“It feels like a family where everyone has one goal, and everyone is helping each other to get better. The kindness that everyone brings makes the sport more enjoyable. It is something I will never forget.”
Thomas and Monica Graham
Sharing the Game with Family
For Monica Graham, the Championships were both a playing and spectating experience, and a reflection of how table tennis is bringing families closer together.
“It was great to have this event right on our doorstep. I really enjoyed being part of it and watching it too.”
A special highlight for Monica was playing mixed doubles with her son, Thomas. Sharing the sport has become an important part of their relationship, both on and off the table.
“I love that it gives you a physical and a mental workout and it’s really technical. There’s always so much to learn. It’s also really social and it’s brilliant to be able to share a sport with my son Thomas, who loves playing too.”
What started as an interest has grown into something much bigger for their family.
“It’s a huge part of our family’s life now. I don’t stop talking about table tennis!”
She also spoke about how the Table Tennis Otago has created a strong sense of belonging.
“It can be daunting to take up a new sport, but everyone has been so encouraging and welcoming. It really feels like a bigger family, a lovely, caring bunch of people.”
John Marrable
Para Events Highlight Growth and Strong Local Performances in Otago
Para events played an important role in the Championships. Hosting a national event locally created valuable opportunities for Para athletes in the region to compete at a higher level without the need for travel.
Otago’s John Marrable was among the standout performers. He secured first place in the Para Class 1–5 Combined Doubles alongside Grant Cleland and followed this with a strong second-place finish in the Para Class 1–5 Singles (Wheelchair).
Otago’s Ken McIntosh and his double partner Robin Tinga also added to the local success, claiming bronze in the Para Class 1–5 Combined Doubles.
Their performance highlighted both the strength of local Para athletes and the development of Para table tennis within the region.
Chris Button and B Grade Women’s Singles: 
Karen Looi, 
Grace Looi
Peyton Chun & Flanny Xue
Otago Showcases Strong Community and Growth at National Tournament
Table Tennis Otago President Chris Button said the Championships were an important moment for the region.
“Having a national event in Dunedin meant a lot to our community. It gave our local players the chance to compete at a high level on home ground, and it brought people together around the sport. It was also a great opportunity for us to showcase what we are building here in Otago, from our players to our wider table tennis community.
Para sport is a big part of that story. It creates opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved, build confidence, and shows how inclusive our sport can be. Para table tennis has been part of Table Tennis Otago for many years, even before Para events were included in the South Island Open Championships, and we are proud to see it continue to grow.
It was also great to see so many Otago players taking part in this year’s Championships.”