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Auckland’s talented young table tennis player Payas Jajal has earned the honour of representing New Zealand at the 2026 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, to be held in New Delhi, India, from 27 July to 2 August 2026. The first-year University of Auckland student has also been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 ITTF Oceania Youth Championships in Ballarat, Australia, from 1 to 5 September 2026.
For Payas, the selections mark another significant milestone in a journey that began only seven years ago. He first picked up a table tennis bat in 2019 and soon developed a passion for the sport. By 2020, he had begun competing in tournaments across Auckland and around New Zealand, steadily establishing himself as one of the country’s brightest young talents.
His performances in recent years have been outstanding. In 2026, Payas claimed gold medals in both the North Island Team Championships (Open Men and Under-19) and the Auckland Summer Open (Open Men, Under-21 and Under-19), underlining his consistent rise through the ranks.
The previous year was equally impressive. At the 2025 New Zealand National Championships, he won gold in the Open Men’s Team Event and secured bronze medals in both the Open Men’s and Under-19 Individual Championships. He also claimed a bronze medal at the Auckland Open Under-19 competition, a gold medal in the New Zealand Secondary School Table Tennis Cup Team Event, and a bronze medal in the individual competition.
Payas has also earned recognition for his sporting excellence beyond tournament results. He was named Auckland Young Sports Person of the Year (Table Tennis) in 2024, after being nominated for the same honour in 2023. During 2023, he also received the Most Improved Boy of the Year Award, highlighting his remarkable progress and dedication to the sport.
On the international stage, Payas has proudly represented New Zealand at the ITTF Oceania Youth Championships every year from 2022 to 2025. During that period, New Zealand secured silver medals in the Under-19 Team Event each year, while Payas reached the quarterfinals of the Under-19 Individual Event in 2025.
Representing New Zealand at two major international events in 2026 is a dream come true for the young athlete. However, international competition comes with significant financial commitments. Even after assistance from Table Tennis New Zealand, the total cost of participating in both championships is expected to exceed $11,000. The expenses include international travel, accommodation, insurance, daily living costs, coaching, additional training sessions and replacement of specialised equipment required to compete at the highest level.
To help meet these costs, Payas is seeking support from the community, businesses and well-wishers. Every contribution, big or small, will help him focus on training and proudly represent New Zealand on the international stage.
Those wishing to support Payas’ journey can do so through his Givealittle fundraising page at-https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/raise-funds-to-represent-nz-at-commonwealth-2026or by contacting him directly at +64221025795 or [email protected]
As Payas prepares to compete against some of the Commonwealth’s best players, the young Aucklander carries not only his sporting ambitions but also the hopes of his supporters and the pride of New Zealand. -TIN Bureau