Deloraine hosts Tasmania’s best table tennis players

On Saturday 28th January, Deloraine Table Tennis League hosted the inaugural Port Sorell Open Championships.

Why not hold it at Port Sorell? Because Deloraine has some of the best facilities for table tennis in the state thanks to a recent grant from the State Government and the efforts of Meander Valley Council.

The Port Sorell Open Championships in Deloraine attracted players from across Tasmania and interstate.

Nearly 80 entrants played 244 matches over 10 hours. The number of entrants is the most ever for a Tasmanian Open Championships tournament held in the north of the state.

The matches were played in great spirit, with smiles and laughter all day.

It was great to see younger players and players living with a disability competing.

Deloraine Table Tennis League had nine entrants and its share of gold and silver medal winners: Saffron King won the Boys’ U15 Singles; Lochie Haberle won the Boy’s U13 Singles; Brandon Geard was runner-up in the Para Singles; Liam Collins was runner-up in the Boys’ U19 Singles; and Levi Streets was runner-up in the Boys’ U15 Singles.

Levi Streets missed out on the chance to play for two more gold medals due to a mix-up.

The winners of the Open categories were Sherry Yuexin Li (Women’s Open Singles), Xibei Jia (Men’s Open Singles), Rob Miller & Nicholas Pow (Men’s Open Doubles), Rega Jiarui Chen & Sherry Yuexin Li (Women’s Open Doubles), and Nicholas Pow & Sherry Yuexin Li (Mixed Open Doubles).

Most of these winners came from the University of Tasmania Club in Hobart.

Deloraine Table Tennis League plays at the Meander Valley Performing Arts Centre (‘the little theatre’).

We run social competitions every Wednesday night 7-9pm, and after-school inclusion table tennis every Thursday 3-5pm.

All are welcome and equipment is available.

The next Tasmanian Open Championships is the North West Open Championships in Devonport on the 11th of March.