John Catto, won U16 title at New Zealand table tennis 1953...

Back in 1953 John Catto held the Southland mixed doubles in table tennis with his sister, and was the Invercargill singles champion in 1952 and was runner up in 1953, beaten by M. Mathieson in the semi-final and who eventually took out the title.

John Catto is 16 years old and had been playing table tennis for four years.  Ken Stanley an overseas coach, who was coaching in Invercargill made a comment that with some experience Catto would turn into a dominant player.
He won the U16 New Zealand title in Wellington and in the New Zealand open championships in 1952 took J. Crosley (New Zealand rep) to five sets in the quarter finals.

Reference:  The Southland Times September 1953