Results for Sports

The 6th Oceania Sumo Championship on June 1 brought a team of Japanese wrestlers to Tonga, meeting over 20 Tongan wrestlers in the event at the Queen Salote Hall in Nuku‘alofa. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The Tonga Sumo Federation is starting off the 21st Century with a big bang. Two young Tongan wrestlers Tevita Taufa of Nomuka and Minaminoshima Falevai of Ha‘ateiho in early January joined professional Sumo wrestling stables in Japan, and at the same time a Japanese Sumo coach, Mr Miyazaki started coaching future Tongan Sumo wrestlers in Tonga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

The first Classic All Blacks Tour to Tonga on April 1 was organised by a new business called the Booking Office. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 1, March 2000.

The King opened a new fitness centre at Haveluloto on August 13. Called ‘Inga Health and Fitness Gym, it is a business venture of Va‘inga Tuigamala, the former All Black winger, who turned professional and is now playing for the Manu Samoa. The gym has been set up in a renovated village hall. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

“It‘s all in the mind,” said Polutele Tu‘ihalamaka, the coach of the ‘Ikale Tahi when he was asked for a prediction on the ‘Ikale Tahi versus the All Blacks in the first round of the Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom on October 3. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

Thanks to what Rugby officials describe as a miracle, Tonga has finally qualified to participate in the 1999 Rugby World Cup after defeating South Korea 82–15 in Seoul on May 4. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.