Over the past two weekends, Croydon played host to two major events on the Victorian table tennis calendar: the 2025 Community Bank Mooroolbark Senior & Para Open and the 2025 AKT Trophy Centre Junior Open. Together, the tournaments drew an impressive 150 competitors, with 67 players competing in the Senior & Para Open and 83 juniors taking part in the Junior Open.

Players travelled from across Victoria - including regions such as Bendigo, Geelong, and Bairnsdale - highlighting the event’s appeal and significance within the state’s table tennis community.

Tournament Director and Croydon & Districts Vice President, Greg Bristowe, shared his satisfaction with the event’s success stating "It was great to see many players competing. We stepped in to help with conducting these tournaments when it could not be held elsewhere to ensure that the players did not miss out on a tournament."

"We had 9 players in the Para division, with both standing and wheelchair events - something that hasn't been seen at Victorian tournaments in many years."

"It was fantastic to see so many juniors competing and enjoying the challenges of trying to do their best. It was very unusual, but every Singles age event had a different winner.”

The Para division was a particular highlight, marking a rare return of both standing and wheelchair events to Victorian tournaments - a step forward for inclusive competition in the state.

On the performance front, Dillon Chambers continued his remarkable season, claiming his fifth Victorian singles title of 2025. In the women’s draw, Sanaya Buddhadasa added to her growing reputation, securing her second singles title of the year.

The tournaments also delivered some exciting upsets, with Jairo Andres Vergars Iregui and Carey White notching surprise victories against higher-ranked opponents.

With high participation, strong community support, and standout performances, the 2025 events were a resounding success - further cementing Croydon’s role as a key venue for table tennis in Victoria.

To view the photos from this tournament please click here!

We now turn our attention to the upcoming Victorian Closed Junior/Senior Championships and the Veterans National Championships!