Results for Sports

The Commonwealth Games wrapped up on Sunday April 15 with the last two Tongan athletes competing in Shotput and Shooting on April 13-14 respectively. Shooter Henry Liutai did not qualify in the finals, however in Women's Shotput, Atamaama Tu'utafaiva qualified for the finals where she threw a personal best.

Fourteen-year-old Noelani Day has made history becoming the youngest person to complete the 22.3km Apolima Strait Solo Swim, placing third overall in Samoa, on Friday 6 April. She completed the swim in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 12 seconds. Battling severe conditions, Noelani dedicated her swim to Tongan girls and youth in sports - to encourage them to always pursue their dreams no matter what obstacles are before them.

Prizes were awarded to winners of an Easter Quick Rip Rugby Lightning Tournament, by the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Tiffany Babington. The event included mixed teams. "I encourage the girls to get out there because they are just as good as the boys," she said.

ACT Brumbies back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey will visit Tonga on April 30 to assist with coaching clinics in various communities and give away rugby kits.

Russia's Rugby administration has formally requested that the World Rugby investigate the eligibility of a Tongan born Romanian Rugby player, Sione Faka’osilea. Russia lost a World Cup qualifying match to Romania earlier this month, a game in which Faka’osilea was fielded.

Tonga A suffered a depressing 57 – 7 loss to the Fiji Warriors in the last round of the World Rugby Pacific Challenge tournament on Saturday 17 March in Suva, Fiji. The Fiji Warriors were declared champions, having secured decisive victories over all their opponents including Samoa (33 – 21) and Junior Japan (28 – 3).

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president David Chung visited Vava’u on Saturday 10 March, to review the construction site of a football technical centre in the Village of Makave. The FIFA funded construction project aims to establish a centre that will facilitate the growth of football in Vava’u. The centre will include a football field, an administration office, a changing room block and a toilet block. The construction project is expected to be completed in October this year.

Junior Fa extended his undefeated record to 14 wins after beating Detroit fighter Craig Lewis via majority decision in the town of Deadwood in South Dakota, United States. Most boxing commentators had Fa well ahead with a Unanimous Decision victory. Entering the fight, Craig Lewis held a record of 14 wins and 1 loss.

Thirteen athletes in six sports have been announced to represent Tonga at the XXI Commonwealth Games next month 4 – 15 April in Gold Coast, Australia.