Pacific Games

Golden farewell for Vanuatu beach volleyball star

Pata and Sherysyn Toko prevailed 21-12, 21-18 on the Apia waterfront yesterday to win Team Vanuatu's second gold medal of the week.

The 31 year old Pata missed the 2015 Games when Vanuatu claimed the silver medal and said it was great to back up the gold medal she won in New Caledonia eight years ago.

"We are really happy to have back the gold medal and yes all our Ni-Van here they are really happy and excited to get back the gold medal."

NZ win first gold medals at Pacific Games

The Auckland teenager snatched 94kg and clean and jerked 112kg for a 206kg total, to win all three gold medals in the women's 76kg division.

It really does mean a lot because it just shows that all my hard work is paying off, at the end of the day, and I'm just very pleased with myself and all of my team members."

Fiji’s Heleina Young sets her sights on her first Pacific Games gold medal

The former Saint Joseph’s Secondary School student is determined to succeed in her 100m and 200m events.

“Preparation has been tough. “I’ve been competing in high school competitions and overseas too. As expected, it has been tough so preparation has to move up another notch. But other than that, everything has been going on well,” Young said.

She was recognised for her ability in running fast at a very young age.

Gold and silver for Norfolk Island bowlers

Tracey Wora, Tassie Evans, Ann Snell and Petal Jones defeated Niue 16-13 in the women's fours final on Wednesday in Apia.

It's a first ever Pacific Games medal for all four members of the team and Jones, who was admitted to hospital on Friday with pneumonia before being released on Sunday in time for the start of competition, said it feels "awesome".

"And we've got a 77 year old lady (Anne Snell) - it's her first international and she's won a gold medal. She is rapt," she said.

Change in Rugby 7s venue

The wet conditions and high surface traffic at Apia Park have contributed to the decision to move the venue to the stadium located on the western side of Apia.

The decision to relocate was jointly made with the International Federation Technical Delegate from World Rugby, and the Samoa Rugby Union in the interests of Player Welfare and Safety. 

Apia Park Stadium has been used this past week for the Opening Ceremony and Rugby League 9s competition. The Stadium is scheduled to host the sport of Athletics in week two of the Games. 

Golden double for Fiji rugby league at Games

The women prevailed 16-4 in the gold medal match at Apia Park to become the event's first ever women's rugby league champions.

Fiji captain Timaima Ravisa opened the scoring with a breakaway try late in the first half and capped the result with an intercept try after the full-time siren had sounded.

An emotional Ravisa said PNG is a tough team to beat but they worked hard on defence and were able to capitalise on their opponents mistakes.

De Vos wins Tahiti’s first gold medal

The 23 year old claimed six gold medals at Port Moresby 2015, however he was the silver medallist at the Games in the open water swimming. De Vos has managed to upgrade to gold here.

New Caledonia's Hugo Savignac and Benoît Rivière the silver and bronze respectively.

   

Lawn Bowls celebrates 40 years in Pacific Games

The competition was recently dominated by Fiji at the last Pacific Games with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals across men’s and women’s events.

The event will also feature popular names that will be defending their titles.

The young Cook Islands men’s pair Taiki Paniani and Aidan Zittersteijn, who won bronze at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (the country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal) will be competing at Samoa 2019 in all four men’s events, and gunning for further silverware.

Six Nations to compete in squash

Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti will contest singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team events for men and women.

PNG, New Caledonia and Fiji are expected to dominate after sharing 21 available medals amongst them at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

New Caledonia’s Nicolas Massenet who won gold in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and men’s team competition at Port Moresby 2015 is returning to defend all of his titles.

Students shine at flag raising welcome ceremony

The students braved intermittent rain to perform anthems and traditional dances from French Polynesia, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia as the flags of those countries were raised on the lawns of Falefono.

Sene Palepua, the vice principal of Maile Primary School that represented Palau at the ceremony, said her 445 students rose to the challenge of learning Palau’s national anthem, despite its unfamiliar words and sounds.