The Pacific Cup was first held in 1980 and is a competition of teams that consist out of two ladies and two men. Each team played in six different events and eventually via a points system an overall champion was to be crowned. There were men’s singles and pairs as well as ladies singles and pairs, a mixed pair’s event and finally a team event. Australia and America were, especially in the early years, the most successful teams. Because a lot of the participating countries couldn’t find the financial resources to compete in the Pacific (and World Cup) a split was made in 1996. Since 2000 the Pacific Cup is known as the Asia-Pacific Cup. Countries from Asia and Oceania can compete in this one. In 2002 the first Americas Cup is put on, in this event mainly teams from Northern America and the Caribbean compete. The format of the Asia-Pacific Cup changes slightly, the mixed pairs are dropped. Because Australia doesn’t play in most editions its New Zealand that often takes home the main price. Paul Lim has played in no less than seven editions and with that holds the record for most played. Lim too has played for three different countries in this cup, firstly for Papua New Guinea, then for his country of birth Singapore and lastly for the USA which also is a unique feat. He wins the singles three times!
