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Tonga’s javelin thrower Sione Manu (37) and shotputter Ana Talakai (31) achieved their personal bests at the Rio Paralympics in Rio in their events.

Sione competed in the Men’s Javelin Throw-F46 on 14 September, reaching a personal best with his first throw reaching 35.62m. He was out of medal contention when his second throw did not rate and his third throw reached 31.09m, all while losing a shoe in the process. He came in last out of the 12 competitors. India’s Devendra Jhajharia threw a world record of 63.97m and won gold in the event.

In the Women’s Shot Put F11/F12 final event on 15 September, Ana Talakai threw a personal best of 7.44m but finished at 12^th place. Italy’s Assunta Legante took out gold with a throw of 15.74m.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Tupou Neiufi, of Tongan descent, who represented New Zealand in swimming, competed in three events. She did not advance to the finals in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heat coming in at 5^th place with a time of 31.37. She also placed 7th in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Heat.

However, in the Women’s 100m Backstroke Heat, Tupou came in 4^th qualifying for the final. She placed 7^th in the final with a time of 1:14.94 with gold going to Australia’s Elli Cole who swam a time of 1:09.19.