Wānaka table tennis players are hosting an ‘all-comers’ tournament early next month, following their success at the South Island Table Tennis Championships.

A combined Cromwell/Wānaka team won the B Grade event at the South Island champs, which was held in Christchurch in September.

During the event, a team from Kaiapoi suggested the team hold a tournament in Wānaka.

“We’re keen to just promote the sport and play,” Wānaka table tennis organiser Tim Lam (lead player for the victorious Cromwell/Wānaka team) told the Wānaka App.

The tournament has attracted six teams, including two from Canterbury and one from Southland.

The event will be a ‘round robin’ teams competition, with sessions from 9am-12pm and 2-5pm on Saturday December 10, and a session on Sunday December 11 from 9am-12pm.

Interest in the sport increased locally last year with as many as 20 people playing on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons at the Wānaka Recreation Centre.

A group of keen players secured four table tennis tables from the Queenstown Lakes District Council at the end of 2020.

“We didn’t really have the facilities before but we do now,” Tim said.

“It would be great if we can get as many people as possible at our regular sessions,” Tim said.

Players’ skills range from “very good” to “recreational” level and ages vary right from high school students to an octogenarian, Tim said.

The tournament will take place at the Wānaka Recreation Centre on December 10-11.

PHOTO: Supplied