X
Australia has emerged as the frontrunner in the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Paralympics during the ITTF Oceania Para Championships 2023, with a number of athletes securing their spots for the upcoming event in Paris.
The Oceania Championship, organised by the International Table Tennis Federation – Oceania (ITTF-Oceania), was aligned with the Sol 2023 XVII Pacific Games and served as a pivotal qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
ITTF-Oceania Chief Executive Officer, Barry Griffiths, emphasised the importance of this the Championship, viewing it as a unique opportunity coinciding with the Sol 2023 Pacific Games.
"Holding the Oceania Para Championship besides the pacific games has helped increase the participation making it easier for athletes to compete," Griffiths said, noting a substantial 50% increase in turnout compared to previous Oceania Championships.
While promoting Para-Table Tennis as a mainstream sporting event has historically presented challenges, ITTF-Oceania noted a notable shift in dynamics this year.
For coaches involved, this championship offers a timely platform to observe and prepare athletes ahead of their participation in the Pacific Games.
Australian Para-Table Tennis Head Coach, Alois Rosario, expressed satisfaction witnessing Team Australia's success.
"It is fantastic to see team Australia win their events and to go one step closer now to me as a coach it makes me really happy.
But now it's great to see all of the pacific nations starting to build para table tennis in the region and that is something that will make Australia fight harder and be better," he said.
This year’s championship marked a significant milestone for Para-Table Tennis, as Darwin hosted the last Oceania Paralympic Championships being staged in 2019.
The combined momentum generated by the ITTF Para Oceania Championship 2023 and the Pacific Games serves as a catalyst for elevating para table tennis within the region, fostering a spirit of competition and growth among nations.
###
About ONOC
Established in 1981, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) is one of five Continental Associations. It looks after the interests of 17 member nations in the Oceania Region, including Australia and New Zealand as well as seven associate members.
ONOC has an office in Guam where Secretary General Mr. Ricardo Blas is based and the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, where the Office of the President Dr Robin Mitchell is located.
All services and-programmes are based on the ONOC Strategic Plan for 2018-2021, and its 4 Core Functions of (1) Building and Strengthening NOCs Capacity (2) Cultivating Strategic Partnerships (3) Contributing towards Sporting Excellence and (4) Leading by Example.
###
For more information, please contact;
Shivneel Narayan
Chief Communications Officer (Acting)
shivneel@oceanianoc.org
###
Digital Channels
For up-to-the-minute information on ONOC and regular updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram LinkedIn and YouTube.
