Rising Stars: Kiwi Junior Table Tennis Players Shine On Global Stage

New Zealand’s table tennis future is looking brighter than ever. Two young Auckland players, Eli Ho, 13 years old and Ayumi Moriyama-Picard, 14 years old have earned places in the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) ‘With The Future In Mind’ (WFIM) scholarship programme for 2025. Announced in March 2025, this programme helps young athletes grow and succeed in their sport. This year, players from many countries were selected, showing that table tennis is truly a global game. For the first time, New Zealand has two players chosen in the same year.

Both Eli and Ayumi are part of the Auckland Table Tennis Association's Junior Development Programme, which has played a role in their progress. This programme supports young players in developing their skills and competing at higher levels.

Eli Ho Makes History at ITTF World Hopes Challenge

Eli Ho has made history by becoming the first player from New Zealand and Oceania to win the ITTF World Hopes Challenge, held in Paraguay from 1–7 November 2024. He claimed gold in the Boys’ Singles event, winning matches against players from Bulgaria, Italy, and Spain. This world event brought together more than 30 young players from around the world for training, education, and competition. This historic achievement is even more remarkable because Eli had to first qualify through both NZ Hopes Week & Challenge and the ITTF-Oceania Hopes Challenge in Melbourne, Australia to earn his place at the ITTF World Hopes Challenge. His success at these events made him one of the select few to compete at the global level.

On home soil, Eli Ho has already made his mark in New Zealand’s sporting history. In 2024, he dominated the New Zealand Junior Open Table Tennis Championships, securing titles in the Under-13 Boys’ Singles and Doubles, Under-15 Boys’ Singles and Doubles, and Under-15 Mixed Doubles.

What makes Eli’s success even more special is his unique playing style. He uses the ‘Tiger Wing’ grip, a mix of the Japanese penhold and shakehand styles. This allows him to attack and defend in a way that confuses his opponents. His father, John Ho, designed this grip, and it is now gaining attention from coaches worldwide.

Ayumi Moriyama-Picard’s Rapid Rise

Ayumi Moriyama-Picard is also making a name for herself. In 2024, she won the Under 15 Girls’ Singles title at the ITTF-Oceania Youth Championships. She continued her success in 2025, finishing runner-up in the Open Women’s Singles at the Auckland Summer Open Table Tennis Championships in February. Competing against experienced players at such a young age shows her great potential.

A Bright Future for Kiwi Table Tennis

For Auckland Table Tennis Association, having both Eli and Ayumi selected for the WFIM programme is a huge achievement. Their dedication and skill are helping to raise the profile of table tennis in New Zealand. With hard work and the right support, they have the potential to compete at the highest level. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey for Kiwi table tennis.

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