The 2026 Arysteq/Simonis Storm Schools table tennis series kicked off last Friday at the Wanderers Sports Hall in Windhoek.
The two-day event attracted the highest number of participants since the competition was launched four years ago.
This year’s opening tournament recorded a total of 80 entries across the U/11 to U/19 categories, highlighting the growing interest in table tennis among school learners in Namibia.
Tournament director Theo Beukes said the main objective of the series is to grow the sport at the grassroots level by encouraging more learners to take up table tennis and ensure maximum participation through exposure to competitive play.
The tournament also introduced live scoring and match updates, allowing players, coaches and supporters to follow matches more easily.
Several schools made their first appearances in the series, including Waldorf School, The Gardner Academy and Rosewood Academy.
Their participation contributed to the record number of entries and reflected the series’ expanding reach within the school sports landscape.
On the competition side, national junior table tennis player Kamrouz Ghayouri from St. Paul’s College delivered an impressive performance, claiming three gold medals in the U/15, U/17 and U/19 boys’ categories.
Cadence Farmer, also representing St. Paul’s College, secured two gold medals in the U/15 and U/17 categories, while adding a silver medal in the U/19 category. Ester Nelengé from Olof Palme Primary School also stood out, winning two gold medals in the U/11 and U/13 categories and adding a bronze medal in the U/15.
The Arysteq/Simonis Storm Schools Table Tennis Series will continue in April, where organisers expect another exciting chapter as more schools and players take part in the growing competition.