60 YEARS - TOP NSW JUNIOR TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS RECOGNISED (1960-2020)

On 17 October 2021, Table Tennis New South Wales (TTNSW) released the Juniors Yearly Top 10 Rankings for New South Wales Junior table tennis players from 1960 to 2020.

                        NO 1 - 2020 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Ming Xuan Nie

Being ranked in the top 10 junior table tennis players in New South Wales was, is and will continue to be a significant achievement that junior players aspire to. There are hundreds of junior players who have achieved this feat over the past 60 years, many of whom went on to become greats of Australian table tennis through their performances on the national and international stage.

                                                TOP 10 - 2020 NSW Junior Players

Two girls junior players and two boys junior players from NSW are identified as the greatest NSW junior table tennis players during the past 60 years. They are Michelle Bromley, Sarah Tan, Gary Haberl and John Tawadrous.

                      NO 1 - 2020 NSW U18 Boys Junior Player - Andrew Choi

Michelle Bromley is ranked in NSW Top 10 girls junior player rankings for 8 consecutive years from 1998 to 2005. This is the most times a NSW girls junior table tennis player has appeared in the Top 10 junior rankings for either girls or boys.

.                                                                 

                       NO 1 - 2020 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Ming Xuan Nie

Michelle Bromley is ranked in NSW No 1 girls junior rankings for 4 consecutive years from 2001 to 2004, and she is the first New South Wales born and grown female Olympian in Australian table tennis history. Michelle competed in the women's singles event and the women’s team event at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. 

Michelle claimed 5 Australian Titles and 3 Oceania Titles. Michelle has officially represented Australia at 1 Olympic Games, 1 Commonwealth Games, 1 Commonwealth Championships, 5 World Championships, 2 World Team Cups and 6 Oceania Championships.

               NO 1 - 2001 - 2004 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Michelle Bromley

The journey and achievements of Michelle Bromley as a junior player are summarised as but not limited to: Oceania Singles Champion in 2008(U21); Australian No.1 Ranking in  2001, 2003, 2005; World Junior Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004; National Junior Girls Singles Champion in 2001(U14), 2003 (U16); National Junior Girls Doubles Champion in 2000 (U14), 2002 & 2003 (U16), 2003 (U18); and National Junior Mixed Doubles Champion in 2000 & 2001(U14), 2001 & 2002(U16), and 2005 (U18).

               NO 1 - 2001 - 2004 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Michelle Bromley

John Tawadrous is ranked in NSW Top 10 boys junior player rankings for 7 consecutive years from 1998 to 2004. This is  the most times a NSW boys junior table tennis player has appeared in Top 10 boys junior rankings and is the second most in times NSW junior table tennis player in Top 10 junior rankings for both of girls and boys.

John is ranked in NSW No 1 boys junior rankings for 6 consecutive years from 1999 to 2004, and is the most times No 1 boys junior table tennis player in New South Wales table tennis history.

John represented Australia at the 2002 Commonwealth Games as a 15 year old, which is still the record for the youngest ever Australian table tennis representative at the event. As a 14 year old, he represented Australia at the World Championships and Commonwealth Championships.

             NO 1 - 1999 - 2004 NSW U18 Boys Junior Player - John Tawadrous

John won 22 National Junior Titles (including 10 Singles Titles), 1 National Title and is 4 times National Junior Player of the Year award winner.

John has officially represented Australia at 1 Commonwealth Games, 1 Commonwealth Championships, 1 World Championships, 1 World Individual Championships, 1 World Team Cup and 1 Oceania Championships.

                    NO 1 - 2011 - 2014 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Sarah Tan

Sarah Tan is ranked in NSW Top 10 girls junior rankings for 6 consecutive years from 2010 to 2015. Sarah is also ranked NSW NO 1 girls junior table tennis player for 4 consecutive years from 2011 to 2014.

Sarah claimed 1 Oceania Title, and has officially represented Australia at 1 World Individual Championships and 1 Oceania Championships.

                  NO 1 - 2011 - 2014 NSW U18 Girls Junior Player - Sarah Tan

Gary Haberl is ranked in NSW Top 10 boys junior rankings for 6 consecutive years from 1977 to 1982. Gary is also ranked NSW NO1 boys junior table tennis player 4 consecutive years from 1979 to 1982.

                    NO 1 - 1979 -1982 NSW U18 Boys Junior Player - Gary Haberl

Gary claimed 21 Australian Titles and 5 Oceania Titles. Gary has officially represented Australia at 1 Olympic Games, 3 Commonwealth Championships, 3 World Championships, 1 World Team Cup, 3 Asian Championships and 2 Oceania Championships.

Gary Haberl was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 2008 to be recognised for his outstanding contributions to table tennis as an athlete. Gary competed in the men's singles event at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics when table tennis became an Olympic sport for the first time. Gary was the first New South Wales born and grown Australian player to compete at an Olympic Games in table tennis.                        

TTNSW Director and State Junior Team Manager, Leonie Whiteford said “Congratulations  on their achievements to all our TOP 10 junior players during past 60 years. TTNSW is proud of NSW junior players’ achievements nationally and internationally during the past 60 years. TTNSW thanks Marie Pinkewich, TTA Board Member, for her tireless work to capture and celebrate the rich history of the table tennis in New South Wales. Top NSW junior table tennis players’ contribution to our sport and to our country is respected and remembered forever.”

Full list for Top 10 NSW Table Tennis Junior Player Rankings from 1960 to 2020 can be viewed by clicking here.

https://www.ttnsw.org.au/about/honour-roll/

David Lee and Michael Li wish to gratefully acknowledge Marie Pinkewich, TTA Board Member, Table Tennis New South Wales and Table Tennis Australia.