The ITTF Oceania Para Championships concluded yesterday in Auckland, with Australian athletes claiming the majority of qualification spots for the ITTF World Para Championships 2026 whilst New Zealand celebrated strong performances on home soil.
The three-day championship, which marked New Zealand’s first Para table tennis championship since 2003, delivered intense competition as 48 athletes from eight Member Associations battled for direct qualification to next year’s world championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
Australia’s Paris 2024 Paralympic medallists dominated their respective events, with all three securing qualification for the ITTF World Para Championships 2026.
Ma Lin(Bronze medallist, Paris 2024) claimed gold in Men’s Singles Classes 9-10, defeating compatriot Lucas Heath Milsom 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9) in the final. The pair continued their success in doubles, with Ma and Milsom winning the Men’s Doubles Classes MD14-18 title.
Yang Qian (Gold medallist, Paris 2024) reached the Women’s Singles Classes 7-10 final, where she fell to teammate Lei Li Na (Bronze medallist, Paris 2024) 1-3 (8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12) in an all-Australian affair. Lei’s victory secured her qualification spot for Pattaya 2026.
The mixed doubles events showcased the depth of Australian Para table tennis, with Ma Lin and Lei Li Na capturing the Mixed Doubles Classes XD14-20 title, defeating Lennard Properjohn and Yang Qian 3-1 (13-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-2) in an all-Australian final.
Christopher Addis and Lisa Di Toro dominated the Mixed Doubles Classes XD7-10, defeating New Zealand’s James Alexander Goulding and Sarah Jayne Julia Clarke 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-3).
New Zealand’s Matthew Britz lived up to expectations as the top seed in Men’s Singles Classes 6-7, securing qualification for the ITTF World Para Championships 2026. The Paralympic representative won all his group matches, including a crucial 3-0 victory over Australia’s Lennard Properjohn in the final group encounter.
Other New Zealand highlights included strong performances from Goulding and Clarke in mixed doubles, whilst Mark Leigh Gladney claimed silver in Men’s Singles Class 8.
The complete singles champions, who earned direct qualification spots for the ITTF World Para Championships 2026:
Men’s Singles:
– Classes 1-3: Chen Junjian (AUS)
– Classes 4-5: Jimmy Huo (AUS)
– Classes 6-7: Matthew Britz (NZL)
– Class 8: Nathan Pellissier (AUS)
– Classes 9-10: Ma Lin (AUS)
Women’s Singles:
– Classes 3-5: Lisa Di Toro (AUS)
– Classes 7-10: Lei Li Na (AUS)
These qualification spots carry added significance as the ITTF World Para Championships 2026 will take place during the ITTF’s centenary year. Under the qualification system, one top-placed male athlete from each class and one top-placed female athlete from each class (excluding WS1) from the Oceania Championships earn direct entry to the world championships.
With a total of 50 male and 45 female athletes set to qualify globally across all five continental championships, the Auckland champions have secured their places at para table tennis’s premier competition.
The tournament’s record participation of 48 players from eight Member Associations, including Pacific Island nations despite geographical challenges, highlighted the growth of para table tennis in the Oceania region.
Table Tennis New Zealand’s two-year development programme, including classification seminars and educational initiatives, culminated successfully in hosting this championship, providing valuable international competition experience for local athletes.
The ITTF Oceania Para Championships 2025 demonstrated the continuous rise of para table tennis following the sport’s spectacular success at Paris 2024 and the reimagined ITTF World Para Circuit, setting the stage for an exciting road to Pattaya 2026.
