French Polynesia consists of more than 120 islands and atolls (around 75 are inhabited), stretching over a distance of 2,000 square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean. Throughout French Polynesia the population is approximately 280,000 people. The most populous island is Tahiti, which is home to around 70% of all French Polynesians. Papeete, located on Tahiti, is the capital of French Polynesia and from 5-16 May was home to a visit by world renowned coach, Eva Jeler.
Excellently organised by Fédération Tahitienne de Tennis de Table and supported by ITTF-Oceania through the Oceania Development Program, the purpose of the visit was to provide a training camp as the players and coaches prepare for the ITTF-Oceania Championships, the ITTF-Oceania Youth Championships and the Pacific Mini Games. All of these competitions will be held in June-July of this year and are key target events for Fédération Tahitienne de Tennis de Table in 2025.
Tahiti has a long and rich history of leaving their pristine shores to compete. They regularly top the table tennis medal tally at the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games, regularly win medals at the Oceania Championships and Oceania Cup and on occasions compete at the international level. Notably, at the 2023 ITTF World Championships, Ocean Belrose (who is now working as an Oceania Development Officer) competed for Tahiti and took a game off eventual silver medallist Wang Chuqin.
No doubt Tahiti will be looking to write another chapter in their proud history in the coming months. Across the 12-day training camp coach Eva Jeler noted that all players were working hard and are preparing well for their upcoming competitions.
ITTF-Oceania thanks ITTF for their support of the Oceania Development Program. This visit to Tahiti is the seventh visit made so far in 2025 and ITTF-Oceania looks forward to servicing all 24 ITTF-Oceania Member Associations to provide assistance where it is needed.