Now a member of both the New Zealand U21 and U19 teams, an Auckland Elite Squad player, and a vital part of Auckland’s U15 team, Ayumi has achieved several significant milestones:
International Competitions and Training Camps Ayumi’s dedication and talent have opened doors to prestigious training camps worldwide. She was invited to the ITTF World Rising Stars Training Camp in Halmstad, Sweden, and the ITTF High Performance Training Camp in Darwin, Australia. Her commitment to her growth in the sport has also earned her the ITTF World Future in Mind Table Tennis Scholarship, highlighting her potential on the global stage.
World Table Tennis Youth Contender Events Competing across three events in Sweden, Norway, and Australia, Ayumi showcased her skills among the best. Her bronze medal in the U15 Girls Singles at the Australia event is a testament to her competitive spirit and drive.
Oceania Championships Ayumi represented New Zealand with distinction at the Oceania Junior and Senior Championships. In the Junior Championships, she helped secure a silver for the NZ U19 Girls Team and captured gold in the U15 Girls Singles, qualifying her for the 2024 World Junior Championships. At the Oceania Senior Championships, Ayumi continued her winning streak, bringing home silver in the U21 Women’s Team event, as well as third place finishes in both Women’s Doubles and U21 Women’s Doubles.
National Achievements Her achievements extend impressively into the national level as well. At the Junior National Table Tennis Championships, Ayumi claimed multiple titles: National Champion in U15 Girls Doubles, U15 Mixed Doubles, U19 Girls Doubles, and the U15 Team event with Auckland. Despite a setback from food poisoning on the first day, Ayumi’s resilience saw her secure four national titles, as well as second and third place finishes in various events.
Regional Dominance In the North and South Island Championships, Ayumi’s winning record continued. She achieved first place in numerous categories, including Open Women’s Singles and Open Women’s Doubles at the North Island Championships, along with victories in the U19 singles and doubles. Similarly, she swept the top positions in U19 and U15 categories at the South Island Championships.
Qualification for the 2024 World Junior Championships One of Ayumi’s most significant achievements to date is her qualification for the 2024 World Junior Championships in the U15 Teams and U15 Girls Singles events, securing her place on the international stage once more.
School Involvement Ayumi is also an accomplished athlete outside of table tennis. She contributes to the school’s Junior A Volleyball Team, Girls Football Team, and was a key player in the A2 Grade Table Tennis team, which triumphed in the Term 3 inter-school competition.
Looking Ahead Ayumi’s goals are as ambitious as her accomplishments. She aspires to continue representing New Zealand in world events and is aiming for a future place on the New Zealand Open Women’s team. Her journey is one of perseverance, dedication, and a deep love for the sport. With a resume of remarkable achievements at such a young age, Ayumi Moriyama-Picard is undoubtedly a rising star in New Zealand’s table tennis scene, and we can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.
