SAM KILMISTER <\/p>\n
Last updated14:14, July 4 2017 <\/p>\n
Supplied <\/p>\n
Abbey Webb brought home two silver medals at theOceania tournament in Fiji last month. <\/p>\n
Hand-eye co-ordination, lightning-fast reactions, strategic nous and pin-point accuracy are hallmarks of table tennis. <\/p>\n
They're skills that Feilding teen Abbey Webb used to bring home two silver medals fromtheOceania Championships in Suva, Fiji, last month. <\/p>\n
Her efforts in two doubles categories were rewarded, but she lost to Australia in the mixed doubles2-3and then again 1-3in regular doubles. <\/p>\n
David Unwin\/Fairfax NZ. <\/p>\n
Abbey Webb from Feilding High School. <\/p>\n
\"I stood on that podium proud of the fact I'm from New Zealand and proud of how much I love my sport... but I must admit I was starting to get annoyed with the repeat of the Australian national anthem.\" <\/p>\n
Webb took confidence from competing against some of the best junior table tennis gurus in the world. <\/p>\n
A spot on the podium was a dream come truein her first international representative event. <\/p>\n
\"For someone like me, coming from a small town in the heart of Manawatu I often don't get to play any girls and events like these are one of the few times I get to socialise and train with female players. <\/p>\n
\"I learnt a lot from the amazing young juniors. It doesn't matter about age or skill, you can take a lot of things from them.\" <\/p>\n
Perhaps more fierce than the competition on the table was the stifling heat the athletes had to acclimatise to. <\/p>\n
Webb recalled a training session upon arriving in Suva and \"hadn't sweated that much\" in her life. <\/p>\n
\"The table and balls were always damp and this affected how we played.\" <\/p>\n
The experience has only developedher passion for the sport as she sets her eyes to her ultimate goal - the Commonwealth Games - and hopefully, one day, get one back on the Aussies. <\/p>\n
\"Now I have extra motivation to train hard, repeat the opportunity to represent my country, see the friends I have made and to drown out the Australian national anthem.\" <\/p>\n
-Stuff <\/p>\n
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Read more: <\/p>\n
Feilding teen does herself proud at Oceania table tennis | Stuff.co.nz - Manawatu Standard<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SAM KILMISTER Last updated14:14, July 4 2017 Supplied Abbey Webb brought home two silver medals at theOceania tournament in Fiji last month. Hand-eye co-ordination, lightning-fast reactions, strategic nous and pin-point accuracy are hallmarks of table tennis. Continue reading