Pacific Games

Following an impressive showing from their karetekas yesterday, they were able to keep the momentum going with a commanding display that cements their fourth place spot on the overall medals table.

Joji Veremalua claimed the men’s under 75 kilograms individual kumite honours with victory over Honoiti Lien of Tahiti, while Tumu Lango continued Vanuatu’s recent medal rush with bronze.

New Caledonia’s Iwe Rene Hmana was the other athlete who clinched a podium finish, taking bronze. 

The venue was in shock as Webb began the brighter of the two players and took the opening set 11-8.

It prompted a response from Vai which her teammate could not deal with.

She levelled proceedings, winning the second set 11-1 and then claimed the third set. 

That seemed to knock the wind out of Webb’s sails as her performance slowly began to deteriorate which the ruthless Vai took advantage of, winning the fourth set by the same margin as the second to ensure she topped the podium.

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.

The Chief Executive Officer for the 2019 Tonga Pacific Games Organising Committee  and for Prime Minister Lord Savele said it was one of the questions asked since games are being played at the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

“One of the issues asked of us the other day was what our response would be about sports on Sunday, we have decided we’d go back to the traditional way we’ve been running the Pacific Games and for Sunday we’ll allow everybody to rest or go to the beach but there will be no sport played on Sundays when you’re in Tonga,” said Lord Savele.

CISNOC Secretary General Robert Graham told members of the Pacific Games Council (PGC) that his country would not be able to host Pacific Games because it has no capacity to host the games.

“We won’t be able to host a Pacific Games - never. We cannot it’s too big for us,” he said.

“About 12 of us members that will only probably host Pacific Mini Games,” he said.

Graham said if the PGC changes the Mini to Youth Games it won’t get the support from the government.

Carlo in his report to the Pacific Games Council (PGC) Annual General Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea yesterday said swimming one of the major attractions at any Pacific or Oceania meet is not on the programme.

“We had discussions with the Pacific Games Council executives on deleting swimming, there’s also a big question mark on  weightlifting because you know the small countries would like to have weightlifting because its their medal winning event.”

The 19 year old won silver after she was defeated 6-0 by gold medallist Fijian Drodrolagi Kidia in the female individual kumite -61kg category.

Catherine said the silver medal means a lot because this is her first Pacific Games and first ever medal.

The watershed moment for women in the boxing came when it was added to the London 2012 Olympic Games program.

Since 2012, women have featured at other large events like the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and at the recent 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The bronze medal holders lost to silver medallist Tahiti 3-0 in a close encounter this evening at the BSP Arena.

The Tahitians were too strong and surprised the sell-out crowd as they put on a great show.

The arena was filled to capacity with fans supporting the home team but they were  disappointed after Tahiti stomped over PNG in the first set 25-22.

The crowd kept chanting and cheering the home team on as the pressure was applied in the second set.

PNG's Paul Moses won bronze while Maryanne Moses of Fiji won silver.

In the heavyweight 55kg female division, Ursula Martin bagged gold while PNG's Misa Avefa won silver and Haifa June Work won bronze.

 The men's middleweight under 85kg finals is underway.