Pacific Mini Games

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.

Tonga scoops gold in Men’s weightlifting 96kg

The 23-year-old NZ born lifter has been impressive in his performance.

He once represented NZ in the Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent in 2018.

In other categories of the event, Australia’s Darcy Kay won the women's 71 kg competition today with Beau Garrett adding to the team’s haul with men's 89kg gold.

The women's 76kg title also went to Australia too, courtesy of Olivia Kelly.

In the badminton hall, Tahiti won the mixed team gold medal as they ended the round robin stage with five victories from five.

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.

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.

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.

     

More than 1000 athletes to compete in Pacific Mini Games

Super typhoons, the withdrawal of government support and Covid-19 have disrupted the event which will now take place from June 17-25. It was originally due to be held in May/June 2021.

The hosts and Fiji lead the delegations with 125 athletes apiece.

Solomon Islands has 117 athletes while New Caledonia has 109. The smallest delegations are Norfolk Island and American Samoa with three each.

The 20 Pacific nations and territories attending and their number of athletes are:

CNMI forms Pacific Mini Games Committee

Peter represented the CNMI in the Pacific Games Council meeting in Samoa last year to reaffirm the commonwealth's commitment to the event.

He has been named by Governor Ralph Torres to serve as chair of the local Organising Committee.

He will be joined by a slew of officials from the CNMI's government and private sector, including Saipan Mayor, David Apatang; Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director, Priscilla Iakopo; Hotel Association Chair, Gloria Cavanagh; and the heads of the departments of Public Safety, Public Works, Lands and Natural Resources, among others.

CNMI set to host Pacific Mini Games for first time in June 2022

Saipan will host the games then after a CNMI request to postpone the event until 2022 was accepted by Pacific Games Council.

The CNMI was originally supposed to hold the Mini Games in June 2021, but the Games Council requested the host nation reschedule so as not to clash with the Tokyo Olympics, which had been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council suggested a date of December 2021 however the CNMI requested a June 2022 date which has now been approved by the 22 member-nation council.