Commonwealth Games

Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko won all three sets against the Scottish duo Melissa Coutts and Lyne Beattie.

Vanuatu scored 21-10 to Scotland in the first set.

Scotland extended their points but was not enough to beat the duo from Vanuatu, who were scoreless in the second set 21-14.

Vanuatu then sealed their victory after extending their lead in the last set 42—24.

The team went down to Uganda 3-0 on Saturday.

Vanuatu’s Roanna Abel and Tracey Mawa were scoreless 3-0 in the doubles event against Uganda’s Judith Nangonzi and Jemimah Nakawala.

Representing the island nation in the singles event, Stephanie Qwea was scoreless 3-0 against Florence Seera.

Uganda continued to capitalize in another singles event after they beat Vanuatu 3-0.

Fiji’s wait for a gold medal in 7s continues.

Blitzbok raced to an early lead and pressured the national side to making many unforced errors.

Muller Du Plessis ran in two tries to help his side.

The other tries were scored by JC Pretorious and Shaun Williams as they led 17-0 at half time.

Skipper Waisea Nacuqu scored the lone try for Fiji in the second spell but it wasn’t enough as South Africa proved too strong in defense.

Fiji settles for silver and New Zealand secures a bronze medal win.

The 2018 Bronze medal winners are in Pool C in the Women’s competition with England, Solomon Islands and Scotland.

Vanuatu will meet Scotland in their first match on Sunday 31 July.

Vanuatu will be coming up against familiar opponents in Canada and Australia as well as facing possible threats from traditional rivals New Zealand and even the host nation England.

Toua will be in action at the Games in the women's 53kg category at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, England.

Weightlifting will begin its competition on Saturday local time.

"My aim is to do my best and hopefully win a medal, that is the number one priority going into this competition," Toua, who win silver in 2018, told the Post Courier.

"Whether I win a silver or a gold medal, it doesn't matter, the biggest thing is winning and making my family and the nation proud of my achievement."

An understandable role model for an avid Manchester United fan, but the choice was partly out of necessity.

Housby did not see many sportswomen on screen or in the newspapers when she was a child.

But things have changed since then.

Four years ago, Housby became an icon for young netballers everywhere with a last-second goal to take a historic Commonwealth netball gold for England.

Later this month, England will bid to defend that title on home soil at the first Commonwealth Games with more medal events for women than men.

Most of the team has little or no international experience outside of the Pacific Mini-Games held last month in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The country's star athlete and medal prospect is beach volleyballer Miller Pata, who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

She won that medal with Linline Matauatu just seven months after giving birth to her son Tommy.

This year Pata is teamed with Shersyn Toko, with the beach volleyball event being held at a makeshift court in a regenerated part of the centre of Birmingham, England.

The Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee congratulated the two.

“We are looking forward to follow them at the Opening Ceremony and see them rising the Vanuatu flag.”

Enock will represent the country in the Paralympic short put event and Para powerlifting, while Mahit to participate in the Judo event.

Vanuatu has sent 17 athletes to participate in eight sports namely Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Judo, Para-athletics, Para – powerlifting, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.

Hundreds of Armed Forces personnel will be deployed to Birmingham to support the West Midlands Police Security Operation, the biggest the region has seen.

An opening ceremony on Thursday 28 July will mark the start of the Commonwealth Games, featuring many of the Armed Forces personnel who are in Birmingham for ceremonial duties, civil engagement or competing as athletes.

The Band of HM Royal Marines will provide a fanfare of trumpeters during the ceremony.

The men's Sevens squad consists of six Olympic Gold medalists plus several from this year's World Rugby Sevens Series team.

Of those travelling, five were part of the Commonwealth Games in Australia four years ago.

Meanwhile, women's Sevens coach Saiasi Fuli has named a team that includes 10 bronze medalists from the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Veteran forward Rusila Nagasau will captain the side.

Men's coach Ben Gollings said he's confident for the Games with the talent he has been able to draw on.