Heimuli Faka'osi, won a Bronze Medal in judo yesterday, the second medal for Tonga at the South Pacific Games in Apia, both from judo and by the Faka'osi brothers.

The day before big brother 'Epoki won a gold in the men-under 90kg category, and yesterday younger brother Heimuli won a bronze medal in the men-under 73kg category. The gold medal went to Abedis Trindade de Abreu NCL, the silver also went to New Caledonia to Marc Hmazun, and the two bronze medals, one to Heimuli and the other to Pelasio Regect of Fiji.

The two other judokas who played in Samoa, were Aniki Tu'ipulotu, Tonga's only female competitor at the South Pacific Games. Aniki fought a Fijian Selenia Maria Waqanisanini, but Selenia won.

The Tongan medal hopeful was 'Akapei Latu in the men-under 81kg category. 'Akapei had several goods wins but had a bit of a bad luck in his bronze medal fight.

Lennie Nitt, the 'father' of Tongan Judo said that the Tonga judo team will return to Tonga on Thursday morning, excepting for the gold medalist 'Epoki Faka'osi who returns to the US tomorrow.

Lennie said that once the team is home they will be back in training in preparation for the World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in mid-September where both 'Epoki Faka'osi and 'Akapei Latu are scheduled to participate. The World Judo Championship is one of three events for Olympic Qualification and if either judoka perform well here then the next qualifying event would be the Oceania Judo Union Open World Cup in Perth, Western Australia, in early November 2007.