Eli Ho created history when he won the men’s singles title at the New Zealand open championships in Auckland last week.
At 13, Ho was the youngest winner in the history of the tournament.
The championships featured 22 events across team, singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories, attracting over 135 teams and more than 320 singles and doubles entries.
The men’s singles draw included some of New Zealand’s most decorated players.
Barry Griffiths, a former Olympian and eight-time champion, was aiming for a record ninth title before exiting in the round of 16, while Teng Teng Liu, a seven-time winner, reached the semifinals in pursuit of his eighth crown.
But youngster Ho quickly became the story.
He plays the unorthodox "tiger wing" style under the coaching of his father, John, while his sister is a former New Zealand No 1.
In the final, Ho showed remarkable composure and fight, edging out 17-year-old Timothy Choi in a thrilling seven-game battle.
The match went the distance, but Eli kept his cool to close it out 4-3 and claim the title.
He was marginally younger than Roger Rao, who won the national title in 2010.
Last year, Ho won the prestigious ITTF World Hopes Week Challenge boys singles title.
"It feels amazing to win my first New Zealand open title," he said.
"I knew it was going to be tough against some of the country’s best players, and the final was one of the hardest matches I have ever played.
"I just tried to stay focused on every point. To come through and make a bit of history at the same time is special."
The women’s singles was an exciting contest with Olympian Li Chunli, who first wore the silver fern at the 1992 Barcelona Games, chasing her 11th title.
She was beaten in the semifinals by 19-year-old Hannah Li, who overpowered Gina Liu in straight sets to claim the title.
— Allied Media
