Tonga competes in 15 sports at Pacific Games [1]
Monday, August 29, 2011 - 22:18. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
THE 14th Pacific Games attended by over 100 Tongan athletes and officials was opened in Noumea, New Caledonia, by the French President HE Mr Nicholas Sarkozy on Saturday, August 27.
Tonga is competing in 15 of the 27 sports events. Today's first day of competitions included tennis, swimming, table tennis and bodybuilding.
Tonga's Chef De Mission 'Amanaki Fakakovikaetau reported from New Caledonia that Tonga took part in the opening ceremony on Saturday and Tongan swimmer 'Amini Fonua was Tonga's flag bearer.
He said that three body builders competing today were Mateo Vaihu, Sione Fatai and Sitaniselao Tautalanoa. The final of the bodybuilding would also be held today.
Tongan swimmers competing today are 'Amini Fonua, 'Ifalemi Paea and a woman swimmer Carissa Panuve.
The tennis competitors today were the female team consisting of Tamina Hemehema and Sarah Prescott and male teams are Liua Feke, Saia Tu'ifua and Liua Vakalahi and Tuai Finau.
The boxing competition is tomorrow, August 30 for boxers Semisi Kalu, Sosefo and Ikani Falelaon.
There are high hopes for Tonga to do well in the Pacific Games, said the Chef De Mission.
The 15 sports that Tonga has entered include athletics, archery, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, bodybuilding, football (women), golf, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, indoor volleyball, weightlifting and triathlon.
Hon Frederica Tuita is the Government of Tonga's representative to the games.