NEARLY 90 junior and senior table tennis players will converge in Hamilton for this weekend’s Hamilton Mid-Western Open.

The event will be ran at HILAC with juniors playing today and seniors in action tomorrow.

Among the players will be some locals in contention, and Hamilton Table Tennis Association president, Mike Fitzpatrick said it was exciting to see a top tournament return to Hamilton.

“It is really exciting, the last tournament we had was I think in 2012,” he said.

“The tournament was a permanent event in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s, but it has been over 10 years since we’ve had one here.”

Five junior locals will be in action, with Ruby Rankin, Billy Fitzpatrick, Sineth Hansa, Darcy Walsh and Braxton Neaves all in action.

“We have got a few involved locally, we have five juniors plus one or two from Warrnambool,” Mike said.

“Predominantly a lot of entries are from Melbourne and various parts of Victoria.

“The Under-13 Australian Champion is playing here as well.

“It will be a great experience for each of them.”

The juniors range from Under-9 through to Under-19, with a mix of singles and doubles played across the day before some division events to end the schedule.

The HILAC facility will also see additional tables added to handle the event, with six new competition tables purchased with funds from a Southern Grampians Shire Council grant and will be set up on basketball’s Court 1.

“There will be plenty of room for spectators to come and watch,” Mike said.

The junior schedule gets underway at 9am today, while tomorrow’s seniors start at 9.30am.

Each of the days will start with round robin games before progressing to knockout and finals formats.

Under-21, Open and Over-30s sections will see many locals in action, with Nathan Coombes, Darryl Rankin, Mike Fitzpatrick, Marcus Gellert, Elijah Gellert and Mohammad Touhidi in action in the men’s sections.

Heidi Wooldridge and Katie Wooldridge will be in action in the women’s singles and doubles, while Ruby Rankin will back up after her junior efforts with senior action.

Mike said the event would give locals a chance to test themselves against others, as well as expand the sport locally and create some extra buzz.

“It is great that some players will be getting their first experience at the tournament,” he said.

“There is probably one or two a month, this is the only one out this way.

“The nearest one to us is Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo.”

As for locals to keep an eye out for at the business end, Mike said there were a handful in contention for medals.

“I think the Wooldridge sisters will be a strong chance in the Open Women’s,” he said.

“Ruby will be a strong chance in the Under-21 Women, and Nathan Coombes would be a strong chance to make the semi-final or final in the Over-30s.”

With planning starting for the event last year, it is shaping up to be a big weekend of competition in Hamilton.

“I think there is one entry from over in Gippsland, but predominantly from Melbourne, and we have got a few from Mount Gambier in the seniors, along with Portland and Warrnambool,” Mike said.

“We were granted it about 12 months ago, so just been planning it for most of this year.”