Table tennis in Namibia continues to grow as young players take part in development tournaments aimed at shaping the future of the sport.

The Arysteq/Simonis Storm School Tournament Series takes place at the Wanderers Sports Ground, bringing together young table tennis players from various schools. The event features boys and girls competing across multiple age groups, including under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17, and under-19. It provides a platform for players to test their skills and gain match experience.

The tournament aims to identify players for national representation while promoting the growth of table tennis in Namibia. It also helps players improve their technical abilities and understanding of the game.

Namibia Table Tennis Association Development Officer, Wayne Green, said such initiatives are important for strengthening the sport. He noted an increase in participation compared to previous editions, highlighting the growing interest at the school level.

"Three years ago, it was a small tournament. Now, in three or four years, it has grown tremendously, and it is good to see that young people are becoming more and more interested in table tennis," Green said. "We always need support, especially from corporate partners. If we manage to get more support, we can do more of this in other regions of the country as well."

One of the coaches in attendance, Baldwin Simunji, shared his expectations for the competition. He said his team is prepared and called for more support to develop young players across the country.

"The expectation was for our learners to reach the semi-finals or quarterfinals since they are new, but if they reach the finals, we are happy for that," Simunji explained. "The challenges are tables for table tennis; apart from tables, we have the bats, and parents don't always understand the time it takes. We would appreciate it if the parents could jump in and be supportive, and for other stakeholders to be supportive as well."

Meanwhile, Divine Goeieman from Elim Primary School spoke about her experience at the tournament and her goal to improve and compete at higher levels.

"I enjoyed it; it was very fun," Goeieman said. "Even though I didn't win, I enjoyed it. My goal is always to enjoy the game—it's not actually about winning."

The tournament concludes with winners in each age category being announced.