Cyclone Pam, considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu, hit the South Pacific island early on the morning of Saturday 14th March, causing an estimated 16 deaths and total devastation.
However, Yoshua SHING, the island's leading table tennis player, will be attending the forthcoming K-Sports 2015 ITTF Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships to be held in Bendigo, Australia on 10-12 April 2015.
"Many athletes from throughout the Oceania region have already confirmed their assistance towards Vanuatu, and many will be looking to make equipment donations to assist the National Team to continue their training", explained Michael BROWN ITTF and Africa-Oceania Development Coordinator.
"As agreed earlier, the ITTF-Oceania Development Programme will provide a Training Camp to assist Vanuatu in their preparations for the Pacific Games."
The devastation suffered in Vanuatu puts sport into sharp perspective, as explained by SHING:"As we all know, everybody wants to win but there can only be one winner; Cyclone Pam has taught me that life is a gift from God and I'm so blessed to be alive and well. So whatever happens in matches, I'll always smile, win or lose, I'll smile because life is a gift; however, I won't go down without a fight, I will play till I reach my limit and then, I'll smile."
It has been a life lesson for Yoshua SHING whose preparation for the K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships, which will be the first ever combined able bodied and para event, has been greatly affected.
"Cyclone Pam has really damaged our training centre but that won't stop me from training; recently after the disaster, we've managed to clean up some space and started training again but without electricity.
"Most of my equipment was soaked in water during the disaster, my racket and shoes but thank God for the sun, I've sun dried most except for the table on which we play" continued SHING, who represented Vanuatu at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
They say good players adapt, certainly SHING has been required to adapt. "Everything is a lot better now, in training I've been catching up with some multi-ball practice and footwork training. My training programme is still the same, training two hours every day with my coach and other players" reflected SHING
The devastation for families in Vanuatu is heartbreaking; everyone has been affected. "In the community where I live, most homes have been destroyed, even some concrete buildings; all the fruit trees and all the gardens are wiped clean, nothing left except for a few root crops. Most of the people don't have good paid jobs, so they depend mostly on their gardens to sustain them and their families; now there are no gardens or vegetables" concluded SHING.
Difficult times for Vanuatu but for Yoshua SHING a ray of light; whatever the outcome the K-Sports 2015 ITTF Oceania Cup provides an opportunity, a source of motivation.
The 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup and Para Table Tennis Championships will be held from 10-12 April 2015 at the Bendigo Stadium, and will see prize moneytotallingover $25,000AU, increasing from $20,000AU at the 2014 edition.
About the K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships
The ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships is the premier Table Tennis event on the ITTF-Oceania calendar. This year, the event has increased to over $25,000AU in total prize money, while the Men's and Women's Champion qualify directly into their respective ITTF World Cups for 2015.
The ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships is the sole qualification event within the region for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Up to 21 athletes can gain direct qualification into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games following their success at this event.
The 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships will be staged at the Bendigo Stadium from 10 - 12 April.
Find out more about the K-Sports 2014 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Championships at ITTFOceania.com/Cup2015
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