Top table tennis players going to Oceania Championships 2022 [1]
Friday, September 2, 2022 - 17:50
Tonga Table Tennis Federation will send four players to the Oceania Championship in Australia this month, supported by a $8,875 pa’anga donation presented by the Chinese Embassy.
Mr Ruan Dewen, Chargé d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy handed over the funds at the TASANOC office in Haveluloto on 30 August.
The funds will assist the Tongan Junior (U19) table tennis players (two females and two males plus a coach) with their uniform, accommodation and meals at the 2022 International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) Oceania Senior & Youth Championships in Melbourne, from September 5-10.
The players are Melekaufusi Fungavai, Tumor Fifita, Salesi Cocker and ‘Inoke Pepa - the top-seed athletes, who came 1st and 2nd in the Girls and Boys Under 19 categories, during Tonga's 2021 National Championships.
All of the players took part in the Government of China and Government of Tonga training exchange program in 2018 and 2019.
Mr Ruwan hoped this limited assistance will help the team in their stay in Australia.
“Sport is good for the health and table tennis is more than that. It is also good for the training of the mind.”
China and Tonga have maintained good relations, he said;
Joh Fifita, Tonga Table Tennis Federation Secretary and Team Manager thanked China for their generous assistance.
TASANOC Secretary General Takitoa Taumoepeau, TTTF treasurer and coach, ‘Eseta Vi were also in attendance.