Pacific Mini Games

Vanuatu Government hosts dinner to thank athletes

The Minister responsible for Youth Development and Sports, Willie Pakoa Satearoto congratulated the athletes for a great performance and for creating a historic milestone in achieving gold medals in weightlifting and men's beach volleyball.

“I am very pleased to be here to say thank you for flying our beloved flag in the Northern Marianas. Thank you for restoring pride at that time when the country went through an unprecedented challenge,” he said.

Pakoa also stated that the Government will continue to support sports development.

Wisil wins fourth gold of Pacific Mini Games with back-to-back titles

The Olympian captured the women’s 200 metres crown before helping Papua New Guinea win women’s 4x400m relay gold at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Wisil, who had already won the 100m and 4x100m relay titles, topped a Papua New Guinea one-two-three in the 200m, clocking 24.23 secs.

Leonie Beu came second in 24.44 with Isila Apkup third in 24.49.

Wisil then joined Beu and Apkup and Edna Boafob to win the women’s 4x400m crown in 3:52.76.

New Caledonia sealed silver in 4:05.71, with Australia completing the podium in 4:19.45.

Team Fiji’s star Banuve Tabakaucoro books spot in 100m semifinals

Tabakaucoro clocked the fastest time of 10.93 seconds in the heats.

His teammates, Tony Lemeki and Lasarusa Senibale have also qualified in the semifinals of the same event.

Lemeki recorded 11.31 seconds while Senibale finished with a time of 11.21 seconds last night.

The three athletes will run in the semifinals which will be held today at 6:30pm (Fiji Time).

In the women’s 100m, Braelynn Yee finished in 6th place in the final running a time of 13.09s.

Fiji is currently ranked 12th in the overall medal tally with 7 silver and 8 bronze medals.

Fiji records new Oceania youth weightlifting record

Eroni Talemaigau won three bronze medals for Team Fiji in his division and created a new Oceania Youth record of 115kg in the Clean and Jerk.

FASANOC said the youngster lifted 82kg in the snatch and 105kg in the Clean & Jerk for a total lift of 187kg.

He was challenged by 105kg but secured two out of three votes needed to proceed to the next round.

Talemaigau missed his first two lifts in the Snatch and failed the second and third in the C and J.

PNG’s Toua sisters stamp their mark in weightlifting

Dika Toua claimed gold after finishing first ahead of her sister, Thelma who took the silver medal.

Solomon Islands claimed bronze after Rowena Eddie Donga finished third in the event.

PNG also claimed gold in the Men’s 61kg category after Morea Baru finished in first place ahead of Brown Ramohaka of the Solomon Islands who came in second place and Harold Aranda of Guam in third.

PNG currently leads the overall medal tally with 7 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.

Vanuatu wins their first medal at the Pacific Mini Games

The Men’s team scooped silver at the finals of the Tennis match against the hosts, Northern Marianas.

The results showed that the hosts scooped Gold and Tahiti scooped bronze after finishing in third.

Vanuatu is currently in fourth place behind Fiji- who is in third in the overall medal tally.

Leading the tally is Northern Marianas with 1 Gold and Papua New Guinea is in second place with also 1 Gold.

     

First golds awarded at Pacific Mini Games as hosts enjoy tennis success

Less than 24 hours after the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the host nation topped the podium to deliver home success.

The Northern Mariana Islands’ men’s tennis team overcame Vanuatu 2-1 at the American Memorial Park.

Vanuatu silenced the home crowd when they won the opening singles match as Clement Mainguy defeated Robbie Schorr 6-4, 6-0.

But the Northern Mariana Islands hit back in emphatic fashion with Colin Sinclair producing a stunning display in his 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Aymeric Mara.

Vanuatu scores second win in Tennis at the Pacific Mini Games

Clement defeated Mark Gibbons of Papua New Guinea in two straight sets (4-0) (4-2).

Tennis and Baseball kicked off their respective competitions ahead of the opening ceremony taking place today at the Oleai Track and Field Sports Complex.

 Tennis kicked off competition with the Teams’ Round Robin event.

     

Vanuatu to participate in five sports at the Pacific Mini Games

VASANOC has confirmed that from the five sports, Beach Volleyball and Tennis being the triumph card for the team.

The team departed yesterday with Vanuatu Volleyball Federation executive Mike Masauvakalo is leading the pack as chef de mission.

The Pacific Mini Games is a multi-sport event contested by countries and territories located in Oceania. It was known as the South Pacific Mini Games prior to 2009.

The event has been held every four years since the inaugural games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 1981.

     

Pacific Mini Games saddened at New Zealand absence

Andrew Minogue says New Zealand initially thought of sending teams to compete in athletics, weightlifting, and beach volleyball.

But he says they are instead committed to the Commonwealth Games in July.

Australia, however, will send 19 young athletes and five weightlifters.

Mini Games Organising Committee chair Marco Peter says he's saddened that New Zealand won't be competing.

The Mini Games, which will be held later this month, will have over 1,000 athletes competing from 20 island nations.