MEDIA RELEASE  

20 February 2017

Table Tennis is a winning sport at Youth Space

With table tennis tables, bats and balls on the ready, the sound of a game is familiar inside Palmerston North City Library’s Youth Space.  One regular player at Youth Space over the recent holidays was national representative Abbey Webb (14) practising with her friend.

It was watching Abbey and many other young people playing that inspired Youth Services Coordinator Lakina Sione to initiate a Youth Space Table Tennis tournament in March.

Sione has other reasons for being passionate about having table tennis available for youth.

“I have used table tennis as a counselling and anger management tool for youth in the past,” says Sione. “The game is really successful at teaching and developing kids to focus, which can help their academic ability. You can learn a lot from observing kids play table tennis. It can say a lot about their personality and behaviour, and they also enjoy playing.”

Abbey however, is now taking her table tennis more seriously.  She has only been playing competitively for a few years, yet has been selected to represent New Zealand in an U15 Oceania competition in Fiji during April. Local coaches Matt Ball and Tim Seaholme are helping her prepare.

What has drawn Abbey to table tennis? “I enjoy what goes into it. The game is more complex than people think.  It’s tactical, mental and physical.  It is a sport you can play at many levels; competitively, or as a friendly game. I‘m keen to encourage more people to play as It has given me more opportunities than other sports can offer.”

Abbey is one of the many people helping Youth Space with their Table Tennis Tournament. “This is a great way for people to give the sport a go, and have some fun at the same time.”

The competition has widened its age criteria beyond Youth Space’s normal target ages of the 13 to 19 age group. “We have included an U12 age group and an Over 20 so we can have people of all ages here and have all family members involved,” says Sione.  “We will have music playing and there will be a fun atmosphere to the day.”

There have been a good number of registrations for the competition which runs on Saturday 4 March from 12 – 3pm at Youth Space in Coleman Mall. “Anyone is welcome to register by calling into Youth Space beforehand.  The tables are always set up for anyone wanting to practise before the big competition.”  It is hoped the event will become an annual one.

Ends

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