Tonga’s athletes have finished competing in futsal, swimming, and athletics at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Team Tonga’s Chef de Mission, Inoke Afeaki said the games was a great experience for all the players and staff.

In futsal, the women’s U18 team were unsuccessful in all their matches going down 2-7 against Bolivia, 5-7 against Trinidad and Tobago, 0-8 against Spain, and 1-9 against Thailand.

Although they did not win any matches, Inoke said the futsal team “showed plenty of encouraging signs that suggests Tonga have the required potential to be a serious International Futsal Team”.

Prior to their first game against Bolivia, the team performed the Sipi Tau which the crowd enjoyed. Inoke said they were asked to continue the performance for all their matches.

In swimming, Finau Ohuafi had a slight issue with cramping which affected his swim in the 50m backstroke finishing with a time of 29.26 seconds. However, in the 50m freestyle, he set a new personal best time of 25.54 seconds but did not proceed to the semifinals. He was placed 39^th out of 54 swimmers.

Sione Tuihalamaka competed in the 110m hurdles event after having just finished the Tonga National Schools U18’s Rugby September tour of Brisbane, Australia.

Inoke said his preparation was not ideal as he finished the race in 16.15 seconds although he has a personal best of 15.88 seconds.

He said the athletes, Tonga Athletics, and TASANOC have learned a lesson on what is required from athletes to be at their best to compete against serious athletes.

The 2018 Youth Olympic Games will end on 18 October 2018.