Pacific Games

And history will be made for the Vanuatu men’s team who play off for Gold for the first time in history of the Hockey Oceania Federation.

This is the first time hockey is played at the Pacific Games, the only international events the code was involved in are the Oceania games and Arafura games.

In the middle weight division (69-75ks) Baki’s performance had the crowd roaring, cheering her on.

Baki took on Tahiti’s tough boxer Edith Tavanae but her quick feet carried her home triumphantly.

The 25 year old had tears running down her cheeks as she stood on the podium basking in the presence of her fellow country men and women.

PNG took a 1-0 lead after the 8th minute of play when Patrick Aisa powered a kick into the nets.

PNG held on to the lead going into half time.

Fiji came out stronger in the second half and dominated possession early on in the game.

This resulted in the equalizer in the 53rd minute through Tony Tuivuna.

The game looked to be going towards a draw with three minutes extra time given.

Tonga batted first with Nikolasi Moala (14) and Aloisio Pau’u (22) putting on a solid opening partnership of 36.

But good bowling from PNG’s Alei Nao had the pair dismissed.

The rest of the Tongan batters did not put up much of a fight as the next five wickets fell for 18 runs.

Tail ender Lea Tenisi chipped in late in the innings with 12 runs.

Tonga was all bowled out for a measly 83.

Jason Kila was the best of the PNG bowlers picking up 3/10.

Follow PNG Loop's daily updates for more on the games.

“We are sorry to see friends leave our shores and we thank you for taking part in these outstanding Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea,” PM O’Neill said.

“If you are a visitor, I hope your time in Papua New Guinea, and at these Games, will be among the proudest memories of your lifetime.

“We have witnessed outstanding competition and displays of sporting friendship.

“It was great to see the way athletes from different places and languages could break down barriers and congratulate each other and even cheer for their competitors.

“I’m very happy, even though I finished third, but this is the first time for me to compete in this event . It was very challenging,” Nand said.

“Athletics Fiji has been very good to me.”

He finished third with a time of 9:57 minutes behind Sapolai Yao who won gold and Skene Kiage won silver medal
Meanwhile, Athletics Fiji won two gold medals and one bronze medal on Monday.

Shop N Save Athletics Fiji President Joseph Rodan Senior said things went as planned.

With a packed crowd this evening at the Caritas Hall Aisaga put up  a strong fight defeating Alfie Lai Pongi Junior of SI.

In a three rounds bout, Aisaga defeated Pongo in round 2 in a technical knockout.

So far all PNG boxers have made it through to the finals.

Last week the government had to front up the travel bill for 59 remaining athletes whose federations failed to pay their air fares to Papua New Guinea to compete in this year's Pacific Games.

The Minister of Youth, Employment and Sports, Fe'ao Vakata, says the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and other federations were disorganised and it's the last time the government will front up travel money due to their lack of preparation.

Vakata says the Ministry will work on setting up a separate institute of sports for Tonga alongside criteria for selected federation members.

“Yes, my first trip here, I’m very pleased and also to be here for the Pacific Games is very important for FIH to follow these championships are very important.

“The turf is fantastic, yeah. Its like the Olympic pitch in London, we are very pleased, here you have a full nice venue and after talking with the Minister of Sports we are very glad because we have a plan to allocate here a lot of hockey tournaments,” said the Spaniard.

Hockey makes a return to the Pacific Games after a lapse of 36 years. It was last competed at the 1979 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji.