Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 34
PACIFIC GAMES - BOXING PROFILE ATO PLODZICKI-FAOAGALI
Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist and National boxing representative, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali is representing Samoa at the Pacific Games.
The Boxing tournament at Don Bosco College in Saleloga, on Savai'i brings the games to the Big Island where 14 countries are competing for Gold, Silver & Bronze.
PACIFIC GAMES 2019 - THE VOLUNTEERS
The Pacific Games came to a close over the weekend. 12 days of sporting competition between 24 Pacific island nations, nearly 5,000 athletes, multiple sports and the biggest games so far in its history.
Samoa has been praised for the success of the event and the standard of hosting with the President of the Pacific Games Council saying 'These games far exceeded our expectations in terms of the number of athletes participating, the arrangements made, the excellent venues provided and the very high level of competition.'
Pacific Games Director James Smith also acknowledged the Games volunteers and told the Samoa Observer that the event would not have taken off without their hard work.
There were about 2,500 volunteers in total ranging in age from Intermediate school age children to senior adults and were allocated to different sports.
“Without the behind the scenes work, the Games won’t exist. The Games will fall on its face so we’re really pleased with the amount of support from the Government and the Public Service Commission to make this Games happen," he said.…more
PACIFIC GAMES 2019 - ATHLETICS IS ON!
Track & Field athletes started their Pacific Games campaign yesterday with the Mens Steeplechase, Womens 5000m, Mens Javelin, Womens Shotput and various heats.
Check out some of the footage from two of the 100m heats raced last night PLUS the 100m final tonight where crowd favourite Samoans Jeremy Dodson & Kelvin Masoe went up against Fijian Banuve Tabakaucoro. Jeremy talks to Radio Samoa after the race.
Check out more highlights including footage of the 800m final below.
The first lot of medals went to Papua New Guinea who won Gold (Simbai Kaspar), Silver (Sapolai Yao) & Bronze (Andipas Georasi) in the Mens 3000m Steeplechase
The Womens 5000m saw Papua New Guinea take out the Gold (Poro Gahekave) and Silver (Mary Tenge) with Solomon Islands (Dianah Matekali) taking Bronze.
In Women's Shot Put, Tonga's Ata Maama Tuutafaiva won Gold, with American Samoa's Nuuasala Tuilefano taking Silver and Tahiti's Vaihina Doucet with the Bronze.…more
PACIFIC GAMES 2019 - THE MOMENTS
The 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa are over half way through and the second week continues with athletics, netball, touch rugby, boxing, volleyball and more action packed sports.
We've got the highlights for you from the Opening Ceremony as well as highlight packages for each day of competition thanks to the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.
Catch up on all the action here ...
THE OPENING CEREMONY & PARADE OF NATIONS
DAY ONE - BASKETBALL, SOCCER & OPEN WATER SWIMMING HIGHLIGHTS
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DAY TWO - RUGBY LEAGUE, WEIGHTLIFTING, BEACH VOLLEYBALL, VA'A, ARCHERY & SWIMMING
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DAY THREE - SWIMMING, TABLE TENNIS, VA'A, WEIGHTLIFTING, SOCCER, CRICKET & LAWN BOWLS
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DAY FOUR - SWIMMING, SAILING, BEACH VOLLEYBALL & WEIGHTLIFTING
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DAY FIVE - SWIMMING, TENNIS, SOCCER, BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS & WEIGHTLIFTING
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DAY SIX - SWIMMING, SOCCER, RUGBY 7s, GOLF & WEIGHTLIFTING
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DAY SEVEN - VOLLEYBALL, ARCHERY, BASKETBALL, SOCCER, NETBALL & ATHLETICS (TRACK + FIELD)
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DAY EIGHT - BASKETBALL, BADMINTON, ATHLETICS (TRACK & FIELD) & JUDO
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DAY NINE - BOXING, BASKETBALL (MEDAL FINALS) AND ATHLETICS (TRACK & FIELD)
LUTERU ROSS POUTOA LOTE TAYLOR in SAMOA
Black Caps Batsman Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor in Samoa promoting the game of cricket at a fundraiser event in 2017 celebrating Samoan cricket.
He talks career paths in cricket and inspiring the next generation to give professional cricket a go.
Link to story: https://goo.gl/GwLtA9
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via Samoa Observer
BADMINTON at the PACIFIC GAMES 2019
The last day of Badminton went down with all final games between Fiji, New Caledonia and Tahiti.
Tahitian #1 seed, Remi Rossi won 3 Golds tonight in the Mens Singles, Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles finals. New Caledonia took out both the Womens Singles and Doubles titles and Fiji won Gold in the Mixed Team.
It was an intense week of games from the best players in the region.
SAMOA's SWIMMING HERO BRANDON SCHUSTER NAMED 'BEST MALE ATHLETE OF THE PACIFIC GAMES 2019'
Following on from the 2 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals that Samoa's Brandon Schuster won at the Pacific Games, he was also crowned the Games 'Best Male Athlete' at the Closing Ceremony.
President Lakhan presented the award to Brandons father Toesusulu Cedric Schuster as Brandon had already departed to South Korea for the World Aquatics Champsionships for "two gold medals in Swimming and setting a new standard for the sport of Swimming in his country Samoa".
Upon receiving the award for Brandon, Toesusulu said his only disappointment was that his son could not be here to accept his award for all the effort he had put in, in winning the medals.
FIJI's HISTORIC DOUBLE GOLD in RUGBY LEAGUE 9's
Fiji’s historic double gold win for Rugby League 9s is a huge deal particularly for the women’s team!
Papua New Guinea were the opposing team in both the men's & women's finals against Fiji. Fiji's women’s team beat PNG 16-4 in their final showdown at Apia Park to become the event's first ever women's rugby league champions!
Fiji's Men's team came back from losing to PNG in their first round meeting to win convincingly against the favourites in the final. Final score was 14-0.
“We know how to be brave and have courage because we are dedicated to Fiji, that’s why our athletes are so good on the field” says the try scoring captain Timaima Ravisa.
"For the girls we only had one goal today for this tournament was to bring back the gold, to get the gold back to Fiji. The girls hold onto their aims, to their personal goals and the team goals, and the message was don't let PNG get across our defence line," she told RNZ Pacific.…more
ON THE RISE - JUSTIN TAFA
On the Rise MMA fighter Justin Tafa talks the fight game, starting off in Kickboxing before transitioning into MMA, what he loves about Avondale, his family of fighters (Team Tafa), fight goals and more.
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Directed & Edited by Danny Aumua
Camera & Sound Operator - Junior Meredith
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Justin's younger brother Junior has also just signed a multi fight deal with the UFC and was hoping to join Justin for his debut in Perth but unfortunately has had to pull out due to injury.
FETU SAMOA HAS LANDED
Samoa's Womens Rugby League team - Fetu Samoa - take on the Kiwi Ferns for the first time in 11 years this Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium. They'll be opening for the much anticipated rematch between the New Zealand Kiwis and Mate Ma'a Tonga.
Chocka Joe gives us a sneak peak into their first day of training. Peep the full squad below and meet the girls tomorrow at the Fan Day!
WHERE: Mangere Town Centre
WHEN: 3pm
