Table tennis set
By SUSAN OREAPE-FARAPO
THE Port Moresby
Table Tennis semi-professional competition which started last
month has attracted a good number of clubs.
The competition is scheduled to run from Sept 25 to Nov 27 at
the Koroboro International School with the finals culminating on
that day as well.
“At the moment everything is going well and the competition is
basically to get the interest of Port Moresby based players’
interest back on track,” coordinator Hereva Hoi said.
From the competition a selection will be done for elite group of
youngsters preparing them for the coming mini SP Games and SP
Games in the Cook Islands (2009) and New Caledonia (2011).
There are currently four divisions - U16 Boys, B Grade, Open
Ladies (which includes the junior girls) and the Open Men’s. A
team in this competition consists of two players only per team.
There are 52 teams registered and the breakdown in each
divisions are; 12 in Juniors, 12 in B Grade, 12 in Open Ladies
and 16 teams in the Mens Open.
The cash prizes are: juniors K450 (K300 winners and K150 runners
up), B Grade K600 (400/ K200), Open Ladies K750 (K500/ K250) and
the Open Mens K900 (K600/ K300). Total prize money on offer is
K2,700.
Hoi said if corporate sponsor comes there will be reward for all
participants in a show of appreciation.
“We have overwhelming support from the Asian community; we have
five teams registered both from the Indonesian and Chinese
Embassies. We have also players from Fiji, England, Indonesia
and China,” Hoi said.
All top players were seeded and were told to join with novice
players so that all the teams have equal chance of playing for
the top prize money.
Old hands like Raka Taviri, Joe Ribana, Tau Bake and John
Andrews have backed the competition.
“It is good for the development of table tennis as new kids are
beginning to learn some old trade from these gentlemen,” Hoi
said.
The new executives are n Varea Valentine, Hereva Hoi, Karai
Taukarai and Loa Hegame.
