The Serve, Spin, Smash programme provided the foundation for Sarah Clarke on her journey to triple silver for New Zealand at the ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships in Auckland last month.
Sarah, who first picked up a bat 18 months ago, developed her skills and passion for the game during the eight-week programme which was rolled out via three regional community Para sport pilots last year.
Co-designed and delivered by Paralympics NZ (PNZ), Table Tennis NZ, Disability Sport Auckland, ParaFed Canterbury, Parafed Waikato, Waitamatā Table Tennis, Table Tennis Canterbury and Waikato Table Tennis, the introductory, fun and inclusive programme welcomed disabled people of all ages and abilities to maximise confidence and enjoyment.
Following the programme, Sarah became hooked on Para table tennis, and on her international debut at Rosehill College in South Auckland, the 22-year-old excelled winning silver medals in the Women’s Singles Class 3-5 and Mixed Doubles XD 7-10 – alongside James Goulding – and also silver in an unofficial Women’s Doubles WD10 event with a partner from Tahiti.
It was a performance which bodes well for the future of the Hamilton-based Para table tennis player, who acknowledged the significance the Serve, Spin, Smash pilot.
“It played a huge role in my development,” said Sarah who completed the programme in her home city. “It gave me eight weeks to learn the basics and also created an entry pathway for me, which was amazing.”
Born with bilateral talipes (club feet), Sarah embraced a range of mainstream sports such as netball, inline hockey and gymnastics as a youngster, but did not experience Para sports until trying her hand at Para powerlifting at the age of 16.
At the 2024 Halberg Games, Sarah tasted a wide range of Para sport sports including Wheelchair rugby and Wheelchair basketball – but it was the final Para sport she played that week, Para table tennis, which held the biggest appeal.
“I loved it,” she recalls. “I was terrible, I didn’t get one ball back on the table but I was determined to give it another go. So when I saw Serve, Spin, Smash come up, I thought I would give it a shot.”
Learning the service skills before graduating to forehand, backhand and other shots during the programme, she was keen to further develop her game and entered the Waikato Championships.
Today training six days a week – combining a mix of technical drills, match play, mental preparation, shadow work and video analysis – each session targets specific areas such as service, spin control and consistency under pressure. Making huge progress has naturally been encouraging, although for Sarah, Para table tennis is far more than purely about the Para sport.
“Para table tennis has a strong sense of community, which we call our ‘Para table tennis family’. Being part of a supportive environment where everyone encourages each other has been a key motivator and really sets Para table tennis apart.”
Coached by Mark Page in Hamilton and John Tuki when training in Auckland, she entered the ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships optimistic of a good showing. Although as soon as she arrived at Rosehill College, the full-time graphic designer for a disability support service agency was already immensely proud having been asked to design the logo for the championships.
“It was just a dream to combine my passion for my sport with my work to create something special,” adds Sarah. “It was not often we see the other side of the projects I’ve worked on, so to be at the Oceania Champs surrounded by my work was really cool.”
Sarah relished every moment of her experience at Rosehill College and describes winning three silvers and being able to wear the “Silver Fern” as a privilege. Enjoying a meteoric rise she describes the past 18 months as “an amazing journey” and she can’t wait for the next stage of her development.
“I know I need to improve my service and play with greater consistency and I would like to one day compete at the World Championships or Paralympic Games. But for now I’m just taking it one step at a time.
“Para table tennis makes me feel so happy, empowered and strong as a female in Para sport.”
***If you would like to find out more about Para table tennis, go here.
