THE WARRNAMBOOL Table Tennis Association was mixing it with the best when it hosted national champion Miao Miao at the Arc on Saturday.
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The Commonwealth Games medallist and three-time Olympian finalised her decision to make the trip to the annual table tennis tournament at 9.30pm on Friday.
Coaching duties in Melbourne had prevented her from committing to Saturday’s tournament prior to that stage.
Miao then went on to win the women’s open competition and the open after it was changed from a men’s event.
Association secretary Mark Taylor was rapt with the opportunity of hosting the table tennis icon.
“She was terrific to watch,” Taylor said.
“She was very fast around the court.
“We offered good prizemoney so that was a bit of an incentive for her.
“We welcomed her with open arms.”
More than 80 competitors entered, with Taylor saying the presence of the leading table tennis player encouraged more people to attend.
“Having Miao was a real draw card,” he told The Standard yesterday.
“We don’t actually get a lot of spectators for table tennis.
“There would have been 80-100 spectators, including local players’ families.”
Taylor said the Arc was an ideal location for table tennis events, with the bleachers providing prime viewing of matches.
“Fortunately it wasn’t cold (like last year) and everyone could sit on the benches and have a terrific view of all eight tables,” Taylor said.
“They could see how each game was going at any time.”
He said the one flaw in the day was the event, which was scheduled from 9am to 7.30pm, running overtime.
“We finished about 20 to nine,” Taylor said.
“From an organisation point of view, it ran a little bit long.
“But it was such a high standard and so close.
“The competition was really, really good at all levels … (it was) pretty even across the junior and senior sections.”
Taylor stressed his gratitude for the assistance of table tennis associations in Orford, Terang, Geelong and Melbourne for their contribution of tables, barriers, nets and scoring equipment.
“Without co-operation of the other associations, we wouldn’t have been able to do it,” Taylor said.
In other matches, Warrnambool favourite Sarah Lazzaro won the female under 18 section, while Darcie Morton from the Gippsland Sporting Academy took out the female under 15 and under 13 competitions.
Member of the Australian table tennis squad Steven Phan won the male under 18 and under 15 contests with Dominic Nyugen the best in the male under 13s.
Warrnambool’s Hamish Porter led the contingent in the division five singles, while Josh Jantosh took out division four and Chris Rath division six.
Ben Taylor, who was using the tournament to gather state team points, won the mixed doubles with partner Alex Lever.
Eugene Ng and Edmund Chen were victorious in the boys’ doubles.
