Pacific Mini Games

Vanuatu secured its sixth gold medal of the Games on Saturday morning in the final of the tennis Men’s teams event surpassing the previous highest total for the nation of five gold.

President of the Vanuatu Tennis Federation, CyrilleMainguy could not have been prouder of the performance on court this morning.

“We made history – it’s the first gold medal for Tennis in any Pacific Games,” he said.

“We have previously won silver in 2009 Mini Games, 2011, 2015 and this year at home we have got gold out of the nine countries that are present.”

Shing made the promise to his father, John Shing, when asked how did he sees his performance in the ongoing Pacific Mini Games in Port-Vila

Yoshua was first introduced in an international tournament when he participated for the first time in the Commonwealth back in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 12 and hes was the youngest athlete at the games

At the age of 24, he is giving all his best today at the Pacific Games to win more medal and most importantly to prove himself on home ground

Sevens was to be one of two sports featuring Tahitian athletes in Port Vila, after the French Polynesian government opted to boycott the event and not support the team.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue said they were expecting the team to arrive in Vanuatu on Thursday before being informed they weren't coming at all.

Instead they had to settle for a silver between them, secured by Ovini who lost to New Caledonia’s Teva Gouriou in the gold medal match.

However, two finals and a silver is no small achievement for a pair of brothers who only took up the sport four years ago in a country where it is relatively unknown.

Most people in Nauru, a small Micronesian island nation in the central Pacific, are not familiar with judo as Australian rules football (AFL) and weightlifting are the most popular sports there.

Each carding rounds of 75, Kristine Seko (PNG) and Emilie Ricaud (NCL) have a one-stroke lead over the next two players Mathilde Guepy (NCL) and Rotana Howard (COK) with no more than one stroke separating each of the top 17 placings in a field of 22.

With three days to go, the field is as tight as would be expected and day 2 will prove interesting to see if a break can be made by any of those at the top of the leaders’ board.

Samantha Hansen from New Zealand secured the gold medal with a score of 163 points, while Maria Liku from Fiji finished second with 158 points securing the silver and Kiribati’s Tiiau Bakaekiri claimed the bronze.

In the 75kg division, the gold medal was won by a woman with a name familiar to many in the weightlifting fraternity. Apolonia Vaivai won gold with a record 215 points, as Hayley Whiting from New Zealand took the silver with a score of 176 points with the bronze going to Australian lifter Philippa Torea Frances Woonton.

Australia and New Zealand have already secured their place on the Gold Coast in the men's and women's competitions, while host nation Vanuatu is qualified for the women's event courtesy of their world ranking.

President of the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation, Debbie Masaufakalo, is hoping home-town support can help the men's duo of James Chilia and Donny Aru over the line.

"I think our biggest competition would be Papua New Guinea and Fiji and also Cook Islands is quite strong as well," Masaufakalo said.

“For the past six years we have been preparing for this night and the next 12 days of the games,” Simeon Seule addressed the crowds and leaders during the opening ceremony yesterday.

“We have had challenges that everyone acknowledges but with the people and the Vanuatu Government, firmly supporting the games, we have overcome those challenges and now stand ready to hosts the Pacific and deliver those games for the athletes, spectators and broadcast viewers to the highest standards,” he said.

Thanks to the foresight and vision of the late Joe Borman Carlo, former president of Vanuatu Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (VASANOC).

“Joe led the successful bid of this Games,” said Vidya Lakhan, president of the Pacific Games Council.

The late Joe Carlo was part of the 4th Pacific Mini Games held in Vila in 1993 and was chairman of the VAN2017 Games Organising Committee when he passed away last year.

“While we miss him deeply, the success of these games will be a testament to his sporting legacy.”

Last week it was announced the territory's athletes would compete under a neutral banner, following the French Polynesia's government's decision to boycott the event.

The Tahitian athletes were expected to participate in the athlete's parade and to enter under the flag of the Pacific Games Council.

But Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said they didn't turn up.

"For our surprise as well they didn't come out today. I'm not quite sure (why), we will find out tomorrow," Flood said.