Tongan judokas dominated Fiji and American Samoa to win seven of the eight categories in the first Tri-Nations Judo Tournament held at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa on October 15.

Tonga lost only the Men's plus 90kg category to Fiji.

In total 106 matches were fought. "All except eight ended in Ippon or knockout.- a sign of exciting and spectacular judo with many beautifully performed ippons," said Lennie Niit, the president of the Tonga Judo Association, who was very pleased with the turn out for the tournament .

Lennie said that the tournament was a build up to the Oceania Judo World Cup to be held in Australia later in November, and three judokas Heimuli Faka'osi, 'Akapei Latu and Havea Fe'ao have been selected to represent Tonga.

Since the success of this first International Judo Tournament, Lenny said it has been renamed the Tonga Judo Open International to be held in Tonga every October, and teams from all neighboring Oceania countries including Australia and New Zealand will be invited to participate.

The results were:

In the Men's plus 90kg category, Talei Isoa of Fiji, won first place, Taniela Latu, Tonga, was second, and Vuni Hemaloto, Tonga, third.

In the Men's under 90kg Siaosi Taufui of Tonga won first place followed by Salesi Akau'’ola and Patelesio Tonga, of Tonga.

Heimuli Faka'osi of Tonga dominated the Men's under 73 kg followed by two Tongan judokas, Mekivila Faka'osi in second and Ofa Taiala in third.

In the Men's under 81kg Akapei Latu of Tonga beat Filipe Kuruvoli of Fiji for the first place followed by Havea Fe'ao, Tonga, second, and Toetu'u Matau, Tonga in third.

In the Men's under 66kg category Finau Fonua of Tonga took first place, Vacacegu Rarasea of Fiji was second and Paula Tupou of Tonga third.

In the Junior Boys under 50kg Hao Wong Masima of Tonga won first place, second was Caleb Scanlan of American Samoa, and Talia'uli Sikuea, Tonga, was third.

In the over 50kg of the Junior Boys all top three positions were won by Tonga, with Paula Tupou second; Kefu Funaki second and .'Unaloto Fe'’ao third.

The visiting Fiji team was accompanied by Josateki Wainiqolo, Manager and referree; and Simione Kurovoli the coach.

The visiting American Samoan team was accompanied by Silulu L. A'etonu, the manager coach.