Papua New Guinea’s top para table tennis player, Haoda Agari, has claimed a silver medal at the inaugural ITTF Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships held in New Zealand over the weekend, marking a proud moment for the country on the international stage.
The tournament, hosted for the first time by New Zealand, brought together 19 para-athletes from across the Pacific, with Agari flying the PNG flag as the country’s sole representative.
Agari teamed up with Rodney Satini of the Solomon Islands in the doubles event, where the pair delivered a strong performance to finish second and secure the silver medal.
In the singles competition, a round-robin format saw Agari face off against top athletes from Australia and New Zealand, both of whom fielded full-strength teams. Despite a valiant effort, Agari narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the singles category.
Speaking after the event, Agari described the championship as a major milestone in his sporting journey.
“This was a great Oceania Championship for para table tennis,” Agari said.
“Powerhouse teams Australia and New Zealand had more than 20 athletes, which really inspires me and gives me the courage to train harder and do better next time.”
Agari’s participation was made possible through a collaborative effort led by PacificAus Sports and ITTF-Oceania, who provided financial support to six para-athletes from across the Pacific region, including representatives from Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and PNG.
While Agari competed without a coach present, he received unexpected and heartfelt support from Anne Motuga, a Samoan journalist based in Auckland, who stepped in to assist during matches.
“I did not have a coach with me, but Anne kindly sat in my coach’s chair and supported me—she even gave me water between matches. I am very grateful to Anne, to the International Table Tennis Federation for selecting me for this scholarship, and to PacificAus Sports for making this opportunity possible,” Agari shared.
More than just a medal, Agari’s silver represents a step forward for para sports in Papua New Guinea, where athletes often face limited access to coaching, facilities, and competition opportunities.
His performance on the international stage is expected to inspire other athletes living with disability to take up sport.
While some pacific athletes are staying on in New Zealand for an extended training camp, Agari will return home with a medal, new experience, and a renewed determination to grow para table tennis and inclusive sport back in PNG.
