10/12/2009        2009 ITTF Cadet Challenge & ITTF Junior Circuit Finals

Ready for the challenge; that is the message from the Oceania team as they make their final preparations for the ITTF Cadet Challenge which starts in Tokyo on Monday 19th October 2009.

Comprising two coaches, New Zealand’s Wayne Gear and Australia’s Peri Campbell-Innes alongside Team Manager, Scott Houston, also from Australia, the eight selected players are currently at a training camp in Brisbane.

The Training Camp commenced on Sunday 11th October and will conclude on Wednesday 14th October 2009.

Focus
“The focus of the training camp is to prepare the players as best as possible with both systematic and random training exercises combined with match related exercises and match play”, explained Scott Houston, who when not on duty as the Team Manager of the Oceania Team travels the South Pacific in his role as the Oceania Development Officer.

“Another major focus is on building team spirit and unity; come competition time there will be eleven Oceania representatives on duty but they will be together as one supportive team”, explained Scott Houston. “We are fortunate that in our region the players generally know each other already and many are already good friends, so building a strong team atmosphere is an area of advantage for us.”

A good spirit and who knows what you may achieve.

Hosts
“The team is being accommodated at the Campbell-Innes family residence, surely one of the most hospitable families in table tennis worldwide; over the years, dozens if not hundreds of players have been looked after by Beryl and Peter Campbell-Innes and no one goes home being able to say anything other than the stay was most enjoyable”, continued Scott Houston. “Every team member is able to retire each night to a warm bed with a stomach full of healthy food; an added bonus is that their property overlooks the glorious Brisbane River, which makes an early morning wake up something to look forward to.”

A quite idyllic setting but travelling in the South Pacific, that’s the norm for Scott Houston.

Intense Training
“Under the guidance of coach Wayne Gear, the Oceania Boys’ Team which consists of Australia’s Heming Hu, New Zealand’s Kevin Wu, New Caledonia’s Fabien Lai Van, and the Cook Islands’ Jamaneter George is in good shape”, added Scott Houston. “Training has been intense with two sessions each day and the team is building up nicely in the lead up to the competition, both Heming Hu and Kevin Wu have a host of international experience behind them and this will surely benefit the team as they strive for the medals.”

Certainly Kevin Wu is no stranger in 2009 to competing in major events. He was on duty for New Zealand at the H.I.S. World Championships and at the Commonwealth Championships.

Similar
“It is a similar situation for the Oceania Girls’ Team, coached by Peri-Campbell-Innes; consisting of Lily Phan of Australia, Julia Wu of New Zealand, Carolyn Xuan Li of Fiji and Stephanie Qwea of Vanuatu; close friendships have built the foundations of this team and with each team member playing with a different style they could be one to cause some headaches in Tokyo”, enthused Scott Houston. “For Lily Phan it will be her third International Cadet Challenge and Carolyn Xuan Li has recently been exposed to the cauldron of international competition as part of the Fiji women’s team at the Mini Pacific Games; they will be able to put this experience to good use when they step out onto the court for Team Oceania in Tokyo.”

Certainly the Mini Pacific Games provided valuable competitive experience for all concerned.

Experienced Cadets
“From the 2008 Oceania Cadet Team, only Kevin Wu and Lily Phan remain in the 2009 edition of the team; together with Wayne Gear and Campbell-Innes who were also coaches last year, they will provide the experience for the six first timers”, said Scott Houston. “In the history of the International Cadet Challenge, a medal has proved elusive for Team Oceania to date; will 2009 be the year that we see an Oceania representative aloft the medal podium?

First Time Winner
Well, on the ITTF Junior Circuit at the Australian Junior Open in July, New Zealand’s Jenny Hung won the Girls’ Singles title and so became the first player from Oceania to stand on the top step of the medal podium in an ITTF Junior Circuit tournament.

She is a former member of the Oceania Cadet Team and maybe she could be a source of inspiration.

Team Spirit
“Time will tell, but one thing is certain every team member will have the full support of their team mates to drive them to greater heights”, concluded Scott Houston.

You cannot ask for more.

The Oceania Team in Brisbane thanks to the generosity of the Campbell-Innes family