Molly Newell, of Otago Girls' High School, and Isaac Hobbs and Ruby Anderson, both of Bayfield High School, have been picked in national under-15 squads to play in the Australian age-grade championships in Woolongong. They will play in teams that will take on Australian state sides over a week.
The trio have all played the game seriously for a couple of years and have been selected in under-12 national teams over the past two years. The players are all 14 years old.
The players had to attend trials in Christchurch at the start of the year, at which they underwent a thorough examination of not only their play but also their attitude and athletic ability.
The trio are coached by Dunedin's Martin Duffy and they train at least twice a week.
Players come from all over the country to play in the national team. There are girls and boys under-15 teams and then national under-18 boys and girls teams.
It will not be easy for the trio, as there is plenty of depth in table tennis across the Tasman.
The last age-group representative to come from Otago was Tom Henderson in the under-18 boys grade in 2016.
