Pacific Games

He beat Australia’s Francois Etoundi whose attempt to lift 165kg failed. He however succeeded in lifting 166kg.

Udia is now the champion of the 77 kilograms category in the men's weight lifting at the 2015 Pacific Games.

Scoring 302kg Udia also bagged gold for the overall category.

In snatch he took the silver medal while Australia won the gold and the bronze medals.

Pini will compete in the 50m backstroke alongside team mates Nathan Nades and Peter Pokawin.

Three other events will also take place.

The 100m freestyle, will see Anna - Lisa Mopio-Jane, Savannah Tkatchenko and Barbara Vali - Skelton compete.

In the 200m freestyle will see Sam Seghers, Stanford Kawale and Bobby Akunaii take the pool.

Competition will be held at the PNG Power Dome (SJGS indoor complex) starting in few minutes.

The 69kg men's finals start proceeding.

PNG lifters participating are Nou Puka, Samuel Judah and Stalin.

People are still coming in the weightlifting venue, with security tight doing their check on all spectators, athletes and officials bags.

In shooting, there will be two gold medals up for grabs in the men’s and women’s 10m air pistol event.

The women’s final takes place at 11:15 at the June Valley Shooting Range, with the men’s final following at 15:30.

There will be four gold medals awarded in Va’a (canoeing) in the men’s and women’s 1500m and 500m V6 events, which start at 12:00 at the Naval Base.

The women’s and men’s team table tennis finals will take place at the Caritas Technical Secondary School at East Boroko at 14:30 and 17:00.

The teams are warming up on the court.

Ranked 5th in the Pacific, PNG will be hoping to get much support from their home crowd to help them grab a win.

The BSP Arena is 80 percent full with PNG supporters.

In other results today, Fiji defeated New Caledonia 29-12 and Solomon Islands lost to American Samoa 80-44.

PNG found themselves behind with the Cooks scoring the first points.

PNG fought back to level up but the Cooks look the stronger side and are dominating possession.

The visiting team showed class in the close encounter but with the home crowd on their side PNG fought hard in the first and second quarter.

In the first quarter, New Caledonia took the lead 17-15.

In the second quarter, the combination of brothers James and Allan Wright helped PNG level the score at half time 38-38.

New Caledonia fought back in the second quarter with great three points shots from Stephane Saminadin put New Caledonia in the lead 60-52 at the third quarter break.

Also arriving is Nelson Stone, the 400m men’s champion of the South Pacific.

Both were among 30 overseas based PNG athletes who arrived after midday today in Port Moresby.

They were met on arrival at the Port Moresby International Airport by PNG Chef de Mission, Richard Kassman.

Wisil who lives and trains in the United States said she is happy to be running on home soil to defend her title.

But she is not taking her rivals from New Caledonia, Tahiti and Fiji for granted.

“I am in great form and looking forward to the tracks,” she told LOOP PNG.

Chief Executive Officer Henry Mokono says Eda Ranu standards are never compromised.

Eda Ranu is responding to concerns for safe drinking water by the Fiji delegation here for the Pacific Games.

The Fiji team sent an SOS this week to its major sponsor "Fiji Water" to supply the team with drinking water.

Fiji Times reported it's contingent had to boil water when safe drinking water became a concern for its athletes.

Mokono says Eda Ranu provides a world class product which adheres to World Health organisation drinking water standards.

Media representatives with games passes will be allowed into the games.

Those who don't have passes will be turned away.

PNG Loop visited the games venues this morning for a wrap up of what is happening and was told by the securitiesat the gate.

Meanwhile most Pacific Island countries have arrived in the country for the challenge during the games.

The opening ceremony will be on Saturday July 4, 2015 at BSP stadium in Port Moresby.