Pacific Games

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.

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.

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.

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.