Table Tennis: Ngata-Henare carrying on winning tradition

Takaimaania Ngata-Henare is proving the tradition of table tennis is still alive in Northland.

Ngata-Henare, 10, represents the Northland Table Tennis Junior team.

She is the only Northland Junior female representative who plays tournaments throughout New Zealand.

She has been dominating multiple divisions, playing as a Northern regional rep and as a New Zealand Development Under-12 squad member and she has picked up the trophy for being the most improved junior in Northland.

Ngata-Henare's most recent exploits came at the Aotearoa Maori Table Tennis National Tournament.

She won the under-12girls' event, the under-14 mixed doubles with her cousin Odeen Rapana and also the under-16 girls' singles in a truly dominant display.

Ngata-Henare also claimed the most improved junior Maori player trophy of the year.

Northland has a great table tennis tradition, with the great James Morris coming from the region.

The next Aotearoa Maori Table Tennis National Tournament will be held in Whangarei in October next year.

This has prompted Northland Table Tennis to say they want as many people as they can get playing the sport now.

Ngata-Henare has also been selected for the 2017 New Zealand National Hopes (under-12) girls' squad and will attend a training camp in Hamilton.

The New Zealand Hopes Open will be held in Hamilton on January 24. The winner of the girls' singles will be selected to participate in the Oceania Hopes Week and Challenge to be held in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia, from April 1-7 next year.

*Become a member or a casual player at Northland Table Tennis Association. Based at ASB Leisure Centre, Kensington. All ages welcome. For further information contact Julie Buttler (09) 459 1453