SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES-Suva, Fiji:

Every four years the small island nations of the South Pacific come together to participate in their major regional sporting event The South Pacific Games (SPG). As far as these Island nations are concerned it is their Olympics. With 32 sports and 4500 athletes the capital of Fiji – Suva came alive from the 30^th June to the 13th July in what truly was a spectacular event.

Table Tennis has been one of the longest surviving events of the South Pacific Games, which first started forty years ago. This time the table tennis competition was held in the first week of the Games and had one of the largest numbers of countries participating, more than many of the traditional sports. Although there were some minor hiccups there was no doubt that as far as table tennis was concerned the event was the best that the region has seen. In true Olympic spirit the table tennis competition had some countries that have been traditionally strong in the region including New Caledonia, Tahiti and Fiji, some countries that are rising up in the region including Vanuatu, Kiribati, Palau and Tonga and those that are almost new to the sport but also show potential for the future including Tuvalu and Niue.

The team competition was held over the first week. New Caledonia was hot favourites in both men and women team events as they took all gold in the1999 SPG in Guam. The New Caledonian men’s team comfortably finished on top of pool B not dropping a match (the top 2 teams to play off in the semi finals) while Vanuatu finished a surprising second and at least guaranteed them a spot in the semi-finals and an unexpected bronze medal. In the other pool Tahiti overcome a determined Fiji to finish first and second respectively. In the cross over semi finals New Caledonia proved far too strong for Fiji and Tahiti easily accounted for the inexperienced Vanuatu team to set up a final showdown. New Caledonia in the final proved why they were the favourites for the gold with a somewhat surprisingly comfortable win 5-1. Fiji and Vanuatu shared the bronze medal while Kiribati with by far the unluckiest and toughest draw just missed out on a medal.

The Women’s team event was a different story – with many surprises. An inexperienced Fiji had a surprising win over Palau whom obviously lacked competition experience to book a spot in the semi-finals, Vanuatu whom earlier had already easily accounted for Fiji finished on top of their pool. In pool B Tahiti was the surprise packet defeating hot favourites New Caledonia 5-4 to finish on top of their pool, with two very young teams the future looks bright for both New Caledonia and Tahiti Women in and even beyond the South Pacific region. In the semi-finals Tahiti easily accounted for Fiji while New Caledonia in a very tight battle eventually were defeated by Vanuatu to set up an unexpected Tahiti – Vanuatu women’s team final. The final was tense with Tahiti taking the first two matches and looking like probable winners but Vanuatu fought back taking the next 3. Tahiti then made it even at 3 all before Vanuatu won the next two matches in an extremely exciting atmosphere. This gave Vanuatu their first gold medal for table tennis in the history of SPG and was the countries first gold medal of the entire games. Tahiti with Silver and New Caledonia shared bronze with Fiji.

The end of the team’s events saw the start of the singles and doubles events. In the preliminary rounds of the men’s singles there was only one surprise with Fijis William Ho upsetting New Caledonians Jeremy Lao. All of the other seeds and favourites made it through to the main round. In the preliminary rounds of the women’s event there was more surprises. Vanuatu number 4 seed Kerry Mok bowed out to New Caledonians Julie Wanegui. Also two of the Palau girls finally found their confidence that was missing during the team’s event with sisters Jasmine Watanabe upsetting the Tahitian Rachel Hsiao and Jamilie Watanabe defeating another Tahitian Nadia Adam-Maere to move on to the main draw.

The Men’s singles then unfolded as expected with the top 4 seeds making it through to the semi finals however the number 2 seed from New Caledonia Laurent Sens was still lucky to be there after being 6-0 down and having numerous match points against him in the deciding game of his quarter final against Tahitian Lionel Chewtchouk whom had been one of the big improvers since the last games. In the first semi Laurent this time comfortably overcame teammate Fredric Qauch to make the final. The second semi however was greatly anticipated, as it was the replay of the 1999 final in Guam. Raoul Rainouard 3 time South Pacific Games winner and probably fair to say the most respected table tennis player ever in the region came up against Eric Cholet of Tahiti a hot favourite and probably most popular player in the competition. In a best of 7 games the first game was tense but eventually the Tahitian got the better of it, and led 10-8 in the second, but Raoul took control to take a 2-1 lead. A crucial fourth game swung dramatically when Raoul at 9-9 missed what seemed to be a regulation smash and let Cholet back in at 2-2 and again in the 5^th game sneaking home11-9. In the 6^th game the Tahitian felt more comfortable and easily won 11-3 to make it to the final. Without doubt the match of the tournament (reminiscent of Schlager and Kong at Paris) and a lot of credit must be given to Raoul Rainouard whom still managed 2 gold medals and a more than credible semi final loss to take his South Pacific games total to 16 gold medals, while having the dual responsibility of being National Coach and player. Cholet after defeating his nemesis came up against Sens, someone he doesn’t have a great record against, in the Final. However after such a big win over Rainouard in the Semi and just having taken out the men’s double title his confidence was sky high and took the final

4-0, surviving crucial periods including 16-14 second game and badly cramping at 8-2 in the fourth, limping over the line.

In the Women’s singles the semi finals left two young Tahitians battling out against the two finalists from the games in Guam. Melveen Richmond from Tahiti whom had accounted for hot favourite and in this case the queen of table tennis in the region Laura Leroy in the Women’s team event found the going a little more difficult. Laura whom also is a three-time winner showed that you can’t buy experience to overcome her younger opponent 4-2. On the other side it was Cyrine Sam who came up against defensive player Wai Yien Wong from Vanuatu. In this case experience and the fact that Wong was the only defensive player in the competition helped her significantly as she overcame a determined Sam 4-2. Laura Leroy in the final proved chop was of no factor to her and was far to strong easily taking the gold.

In the Mens Doubles, Eric Cholet and Lionel Chewtchouk Of Tahiti defeated top seeds Laurent Sens and Fredrich Quach. The Women’s doubles was won by the New Caledonians Laura Leroy and Laura Arnaud defeating the Vanuatu pair Kerry Mok and Wei Yian Wong. Raoul Rainouard and Laura Leroy dropped only one game on their path to mixed doubles gold defeating the Tahitians Cholet and Richmond comfortably in the final.

Overall it was a memorable event one that would not have been possible without the help of the Fiji Table Tennis Association, the huge number of local Fijians led by Inoke Malani whom volunteered their time to help with the running of the table tennis competition and to Oceania Table Tennis Federation providing Referee Fran Keyhoe and Tournament Controller Graeme Ireland plus many others. ONOC, FASANOC and SPGOC have also provided tremendous support for table tennis greatly assisting the current growth the sport is experiencing over many years.

The New Caledonians proved they were still the force of the region but Tahiti and to a somewhat smaller extent Vanuatu proved that their grip had been loosened dramatically. It was a somewhat turning of the generations, with the benefits of the Oceania Development Program now in its fifth year showing through, as some of the elder generation started to realise that the new generation of players had come and that come 2007 it would be their turn to shine. The South Pacific region has some wonderful talent and the future looks bright for table tennis in the region. Without doubt the best event table tennis has seen in the South Pacific region.