Canadian Championships

The journey of Team NT Table Tennis at the 2024 Canadian Table Tennis Championships was nothing short of remarkable, filled with moments of growth, camaraderie, and success. The team’s adventure kicked off on July 15th with a two-day training camp at the Ottawa Table Tennis Club, where they honed their skills under the guidance of esteemed coaches and dedicated support staff.

Led by Canada Games Coach Bob Howard, Mental Performance Coach Chelsea Currie, and Head Coach Thorsten Gohl, Team NT Table Tennis underwent rigorous training sessions to prepare for the prestigious Canadian Championships. The presence of skilled sparring partner Tony Campbell further elevated the team’s preparation, ensuring they were in peak form for the upcoming competition.

Following the training camp, the team engaged in a blend of fun activities and focused training sessions at the Ly Table Tennis Academy in Montreal, immersing themselves in a holistic preparation regimen that balanced hard work with moments of relaxation and enjoyment.

The Canadian Championships officially commenced on July 19th with the Seniors Competition, setting the stage for an inspiring display of talent and sportsmanship. The tournament provided a valuable learning experience for Team NT’s young athletes, for the first time for the Northwest Territories to participate in this event, showcasing their dedication and resilience in the face of new challenges.

Throughout the competition, the athletes demonstrated a commitment to excellence, focusing on executing successful strokes, refining their techniques, and developing strategic gameplay. Notable achievements included Kevin Canadien’s impressive set win in the U19 singles competition and the commendable performance of Kathleen Cai and Karissa Sadowick, who not only secured victories but also claimed a respectable 5th place in their respective events.

Beyond the competitive arena, Team NT Table Tennis embraced the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie, forging friendships with athletes from other provinces, championing initiatives such as the Equity/Diversity/Inclusion Committee and the Women in Table Tennis campaign, and celebrating the success of their peers.

The 2024 Canadian Championships proved to be an unforgettable experience for all participants, highlighting the dedication, talent, and unity of Team NT Table Tennis. As they look ahead to future events and continued growth in the sport, the team now takes a well-deserved rest before gearing up for the upcoming season in the Fall.

Congratulations to Team NT Table Tennis on a successful and inspiring performance at the 2024 Canadian Championships. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment to the sport.

The draw for the highly anticipated 2024 Canadian Championships, hosted in Laval (Quebec) took place virtually on July 11th, 2024, with an impressive turnout of over 50 participants joining in for the drawing of the competition. The event promises to showcase top-tier talent from the Northwest Territories, setting the stage for an exhilarating tournament.

Here is a glimpse of the talented competitors who will be vying for glory in various categories:

Men’s Singles

Gulati, Suhsan (Ontario)
Provencher, David (Quebec)
Gohl, Thorsten (NT)

Osuji, Chijoke (Ontario)
Vaibhav, Agrim (Noval Scotia)
Desbiens, Alexandre (Quebec)
Canadien, Kevin (Northwest Territories)

Ly, Kenny (Quebec)
Chen, Jason (Ontario)
Deshayes, Lois (Quebec)
Sadowick, Carter (Northwest Territories)

Nguyễn, Bao (Quebec)
Santos, Virgilio (New Brunswick)
Li, Zachary Zhihao (Ontario) 
Vandell, Neilson (Northwest Territories)

Women’s Singles

Wang, Yi (Nova Scotia)
Barey-Caron, Sidonie (Quebec)
Zhu, Cindy (Ontario)
Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories

Zhang, Sunny (Ontario)
Lee, Victoria (Manitoba)
Cui, Christina (Quebec)
Cai, Kathleen (Northwest Territories)

Men’s Doubles

Vandell, Neilson / Sadowick, Carter (Northwest Territories)
Yang, Zhichen (Ontario) / Yang, Mike (Ontario)

Women’s Doubles

Cai, Kathleen / Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories)
Pan, Ivy (Alberta) / Zuo, Ding Hao (British Columbia)

Mixed Doubles

Canadien, Kevin / Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories)
Ly, Kenny / Murdanaigum, Nelina (Quebec)

Vandell, Neilson / Cai, Kathleen (Northwest Territories)
Oamri, Abdul Javad / Koroleva, Svetlana (Ontario)

U40

Gohl, Thorsten (Northwest Territories)
Bizri, Marwan (Quebec)
Khadem, Shahriar (Ontario)

El, Mark, Wael (Quebec)
Yang, Mike (Ontario)
Champagne, Martin (Quebec)
Cai, Tommaso (Northwest Territories)

U19 Boys

Zeng, Raymond (Quebec)
Parish, Vedant (Ontario)
Joyal, Didie (Manitoba)
Canadien, Kevin (Northwest Territories) 

U19 Team

Ontario
British Columbia
Manitoba
Canadien, Kevin / Sadowick, Carter (Northwest Territories)

U15 Boys

Guay, Alexandre (Quebec)
Yang, Denis (Ontario)
Wu, Albert (Saskatchewan)
Sadowick, Carter (Northwest Territories)

U15 Girls

Patry, Zoe (Quebec)
Mu, Kathleen (Ontario)
Hector, Thulir (Saskatchewan)
Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories)

Bai, Stephanie (Ontario)
Gao, Jingxi (British Columbia)
Gonzalez, Sara (Quebec)
Cai, Kathleen (Northwest Territories)

U13 Boys

Sun, Jawed (Ontario)
Su, Ethan (British Columbia)
Wang, Aaron (Ontario)
Sadowick, Carter (Northwest Territories)

U13 Girls 

Ning, Duce (Ontario)
Gbadebo, Habhah (Saskatchewan)
Martin, Amaris (New Brunswick
Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories)

Wang, Olivia (Ontario)
Zorila, Alexandra (Quebec)
Zheng, Tonglong (British Columbia)
Cai, Kathleen (Northwest Territories)

U13 Team

Quebec
Saskatchewan
New Brunswick
Cai, Kathleen / Sadowick, Karissa (Northwest Territories)

As the countdown to the championships begins, stay tuned for more information on live streams, scheduling details, and additional updates leading up to the event. Let’s rally behind our Northwest Territories representatives, cheer them on, and show our unwavering support as they compete on the national stage.

Wishing all our athletes from the Northwest Territories a successful and memorable tournament. GO TEAM NT GO!

The Yellowknife, July 5, 2024

The top players from the recent NWT Table Tennis Championships in Fort Providence will soon head south to compete at the national level.

The tournament occurred on Sunday, June 23. It was the first such event in seven years, but it went down as a great success, with about 15 competitors all told, including nine young people from elsewhere in the territory.

“We now have some very young players who are really excited about the sport and we want to just keep them engaged,” said Thorsten Gohl, the head coach of the NWT table tennis team. “We haven’t focused on tournaments because it’s a lot of work, but it seems that people would like to see more.”

Four people won trophies at the tournament. Fort Providence’s Kevin Canadien captured the youth singles category, and Yellowknife’s Akiko Iwase prevailed in the open singles category. The open doubles category was won by Kathleen Cai of Yellowknife and partner Neilson Vandell of Fort Providence.

While the excitement of the Fort Providence tournament is still fresh, a group of five NWT players are already looking ahead to an even bigger challenge.

On July 15, Cai will join Fort Providence’s Vandell, Canadien, Karissa Sadowick and Carter Sadowick for a two-day table tennis training camp in Ottawa. From there, the group will head on to the 2024 Canadian Table Ten- nis Championships, which will run from July 19-24 in Laval, Que.

Gohl said the territory’s athletes are per- forming very well for their level, but the trip to Quebec is more about enriching experiences than it is about bringing home trophies.

“It’s not about table tennis,” he said. “It’s

about creating opportunities and possibilities for our youth to become the best version of themselves. For us to send them to a Canadi- an tournament doesn’t mean that they need to excel and be high-performance athletes, it means that they’re travelling together, they’re building the culture together, they’re doing fundraising together, they’re training together.

“They’ll travel from Ontario to Quebec and then back, making friends there. We have a few mentors that are in Ottawa and from B.C. that are flying in too, so they’re trying to build that little bit of a community. Then hopefully when [the players] come back, they feel empowered and then everybody else that sees them wants to be empowered as well. [We’re] creating that circle of constant reinforcement.”

Gohl and his players have been hard at work fundraising for their journey to Ontario and Quebec. It’s an expensive trip, and progress has been somewhat “slow,” but the group has plans for a bake sale and a 50/50 draw that will add to the total they’ve already raised through their GoFundMe campaign, which is still open for donations.

Whatever happens at the coming tournament in Laval, Gohl hopes the members of Team NWT will enjoy themselves, and that their opportunity will inspire more young residents to get involved in table tennis.

The sport is a great way to keep young peo- ple out of trouble, he emphasized, and it is conveniently accessible, with a table, some paddles, and some balls being all that’s required to get going.

“Sports like this can be done anywhere, in any community,” he said. “For me, it can be the sport of the North, because it’s accessible during summer or winter in any spaces.

“It doesn’t need to be [played on] a profes- sional table, but I think we need to create the excitement around it.”

Team NT Table Tennis is calling on the community to rally behind their fundraising efforts to send four youth athletes to the 2024 Canadian Table Tennis Championships (July 18-24, 2024). The team is seeking support for flights, accommodation, travel, and registration costs to ensure their athletes can compete at the highest level.

To showcase the talent and dedication of their athletes, Team NT Table Tennis has released a video highlighting their journey and the impact of community support. The video serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of backing local athletes in their pursuit of excellence.

GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/119a6517

“We need your help to make this dream a reality for our athletes,” said Thorsten Gohl, Head Coach Team NT Table Tennis. “Your contributions will go a long way in supporting our team and allowing them to focus on their training and performance.”

How can you help? Team NT Table Tennis welcomes any in-kind donations and financial contributions to cover the expenses for their athletes. Additionally, supporters can offer assistance in other ways by reaching out to the team with their ideas and offers of support.

In recognition of donors’ generosity, Team NT Table Tennis will acknowledge contributors through their social media channels and website. Donations exceeding $500 will be rewarded with a personalized fun video during the team’s trip, while donations over $1,000 will receive an exclusive Team NT t-shirt to show their support during the event.

With a fundraising goal of $11,000, Team NT Table Tennis aims to alleviate financial concerns and focus on delivering engaging content to thank their supporters. The team is excited to share their journey with the community and express their gratitude for the outpouring of support.

The Northwest Territories will be proudly represented by the following youth athletes at the Canadian Table Tennis Championships:

• Karissa Sadowick, Fort Providence
• Carter Sadowick, Fort Providence
• Kathleen Cai, Yellowknife
• Neilson Vandell, Fort Providence
• Kevin Canadien, Fort Providence

Under the guidance of Head Coach Thorsten Gohl, the team is gearing up for a transformative experience at the championships. Coach Gohl expressed his enthusiasm for the athletes’ growth and development through this competitive opportunity.

Team NT Table Tennis will kick off their journey with a training camp in Ottawa, followed by a week of intense competition at the Canadian Championships. Two athletes, Kathleen and Karissa, have also been invited to the Female National Training in Quebec City, showcasing the team’s talent and potential on a national stage.

As the team prepares for this exciting chapter, they extend their gratitude to the Mackenzie Recreation Association and Sport North for their support and encouragement. Community members are encouraged to follow Team NT Table Tennis on social media for updates on their journey and to witness the impact of their contributions firsthand.

For more information follow Table Tennis North on Social Media and check our website or send us an e-mail to info@tabletennisnorth.ca. Together, let’s cheer on our local athletes and help them shine on the national stage.

Q&A

Why support this cause!?
Many individuals have a desire to give back to their community or support causes they are passionate about. Donating allows you to make a positive impact and contribute to the greater good. Overall, supporting our athletes financially can be a meaningful and impactful way for individuals to contribute to causes they care about and make a difference in the world.

Can I donate in-kind goods or services instead of money?
Yes, we welcome in-kind donations of goods or services that align with our organization’s needs. Please contact us to discuss potential in-kind donation opportunities.

How will my donation be used?
Your donation will be used to support our youth for accommodation, travel, flights to the Canadian Championships and the registration for the events.

How can I stay updated on the impact of my donation?
We will provide regular updates on Social Media to keep you informed about the impact of your contributions. You can also reach out to us for specific information on how your donation is making a difference.

How can you help? 
Any in kind donation is welcome. Financially, everything will go towards covering the cost for our athletes. Any other ways to support us, let us know. 

How do we recognize you? 
We will mention you, if you like, through our Social Media and Website. If your donations are higher than $500 we can make a fun video for you during our trip. Over $1,000 you get one of our Team NT t-shirts, so you can cheer us on during the event. 

How much do we need?
If we can reach $11,000, then we don’t need to worry about anything and can just focus on fun videos to share with you and thank you for all your support. 

The Canadian Table Tennis Championships in Montreal are right around the corner and we are getting ready for the event. Deadline to register is this upcoming Monday, June 10th, 2024. Please let me know if you like to participate and join Team NT. 

Updated bulletin:

Please note the exact start and finish dates of the 2024 Canadian Championships:

Senior Championships days

• Thursday 18 July: setting up the equipment in the morning; players can practice as of 3 pm.
• Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21: Canadian Senior Championships

Junior Championships days

• Sunday 21 July: start Canadian Junior Championships (+ last rounds of Senior Championships)
• Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24: Canadian Junior Championships
• Wednesday evening, dismantle of equipment.

Please note the categories for each Championship:

Senior: MS, WS, MD, WD, XD and Seniors Over 40 (new)

Junior:
• Teams: U13, U15 and U19 for boys and girls
• Singles: U11 (new), U13, U15 and U19 for boys and girls
• Optional event if schedule permits: U17 for boys and girls

Our plan for the event will be as follows: 

June 21-24th – Preparation Training Camp in Fort Providence
July 14th – Leaving Yellowknife to Montreal
July 15-16th – Training Camp in 
July 18-21st – Senior Championships (everyone will participate)
July 21-24th – Junior Championships
July 25th – Leaving Montreal to Yellowknife

Senior Championships: https://ttcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Prospectus-2024-Senior-Canadian-Championships.pdf

Junior Championships: https://ttcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Prospectus-2024-Can.Junior-Championships.pdf

We will have more information in the beginning of next week on booking hotels and travel in Quebec & Ontario. Please let us know by June 9th if you will participate in the Championships and send an e-mail to info@tabletennisnorth.ca.

The Canadian Press added the cancellation of the 2023 Canadian Table Tennis Championships to their news cycle.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/canadian-table-tennis-championships-in-hay-river-cancelled-due-to-n-w-t-wildfires/article_5ab39b20-daaa-5ed8-be50-df473d5e9645.html

Canadian Table Tennis Championships in Hay River cancelled due to N.W.T. wildfires

Hay River bows out of hosting Canadian Table Tennis Championships due to wildfires

News Release – Table Tennis North – Championships Cancellation – 2023-08-22

Hay River, Northwest Territories, August 23, 2023 – The 2023 Canadian Table Tennis Championships, scheduled for September 22-24 has been cancelled due to the local state of emergency and ongoing wildfire situation in the Northwest Territories.

“While Table Tennis North and its partners are very disappointed to have to cancel this event, we believe this decision is in the best interest of everyone,” said Marny Twigge, Vice President, Table Tennis North. “It is indeed devastating to witness the havoc caused by the wildfires, and we hope everyone is keeping safe and in good health.”

In light of this, the organising committee is looking to regroup and determine next steps for this event, including proposing to the members of Table Tennis Canada to host the event in 2024. Table Tennis North and its partners look forward to showcase their capabilities to host a very successful edition of the Canadian Table Tennis Championships next year. Once circumstances return to normal, further updates will be provided.

At the Members Council (MC) meeting during the TTCAN Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 12 June 2021, the MC allocated the hosting of the 2021 Canadian Table Tennis Championships to the Quebec Table Tennis Federation to be held in the city of Montreal.

Table Tennis North had to withdraw the application after asking the membership to delay the vote on the bid by 14 days. “We would have love to host the event at a beautiful facility in Hay River at the Recreation Centre. We just needed to wait for 2 more weeks to get an answer from Protect NWT, what would have save us $200,000 in hosting the event. Giving an opportunity for everyone in Canada seeing the beautiful North and creating some excitement in our communities.” Thorsten Gohl, Executive Director Table Tennis North

Montreal received 6 votes, Summerside (PEI) received 4 votes, and Calgary (AB) received 1 vote. There was one abstention.

In a show of goodwill and good sportsmanship, the delegates from PEI and Alberta warmly congratulated the delegate from Quebec.

“I was very surprised that we had 4 bids for these Championships, even if one bid had to withdraw prior to the vote for good reasons, having to choose from 3 good bids is not easy. I congratulate all bids and of course I congratulate Quebec (Montreal) for winning the right to host our national championships. We all look forward to a great event and a return to competition after the pandemic.” Remarked Adham Sharara, TTCAN President, after the vote was confirmed.

Quebec (Montreal) won with a narrow margin. Rémi Tremblay thanked all the delegates at the AGM and promised very successful championships. “We will make you proud” were his exact words after the vote.

The 2021 Canadian Championships will have the merged format of both junior and senior events. The prospectus and entry form will be available soon.

The Championships will be held from 30 September to 3 October 2021 at the Claude Robillard Sports Centre.