Pacific Mini Games 2009

Day

Wednesday, Septmber 23, 2009

Coverage of the Pacific Mini Games 2009, Cook Islands

Latest Games News:

Events and Draws:

Events and latest draws

PMG records tumble

ANA Po’uhila broke the first Pacific Mini Games record in women’s discus event at BCI Stadium yesterday.
Originally a sprinter and shotput thrower, Po’uhila managed to throw a distance of 53.10 metres shattering the previous record of 51.6m.
Samoa’s Margaret Satupai won the silver medal with a throw of 50.94m.
She managed to better her recent Oceania Regional Championship distance of 45.69m.
Pacific women’s discus record holder Tereapii Tapoki of host country Cook Islands managed 48.46m. Tapoki’s record distance is 53.68s which she set during the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa.
Meanwhile, New Caledonian Bina Ramesh won the first gold medal in the 2009 Pacific Mini Games (see back page).
The former world junior championship javelin bronze medalist showed her throwing power to win the women’s javelin competition.
Ramesh, who is currently ranked sixth in the French ranking list, threw the javelin a distance of 47.66m – five metres short of her personal best of 52.70m.
Teammate Astrid Waheo won the silver medal with a distance of 47.48m. The 19-year-old Waheo was unable to surpass her personal best of 47.60m which she set in a recent championship at the junior javelin competition.
The bronze medal went to Tahiti’s Teuruerani Tanepau. She managed a throw of 45.24m.
- Rashneel Kumar

Touch and va’a hopes up today

Acid test for two codes that
promise Cook Islands medals
Two of the sports in which the Cooks Islands is counting on medals get underway today on Rarotonga.
Preliminary rounds in the touch football competition start at the Cook Islands Football Association academy at Matavera at 9am.
The women’s team will be keen to hold on to its number one position in the region ahead of Samoa and Papua New Guinea, while the men will have to contend with the teams from the same countries plus top dogs Fiji. Niue is the fifth team in the open competition.
In the mixed competition which starts next week, the five teams will be joined by a team from Tahiti Nui.
The oe vaka (va’a) sprint races get underway this morning at Muri lagoon. The races are over 500m and 1500m for both men and women in the V1 and V6 canoes.
There are 10 men’s oe vaka teams and nine women’s team vying for medals in the oe vaka competition.
In Aitutaki, sailing will take place on the lagoon with racing in the Hobie 16 catamaran, Laser and Laser Radial (women).
Two Cook Islanders will be in the boxing ring tonight at the National Auditorium beginning at 7 o’clock.
Osolai Akai will fight a Tahitian opponent Puaiura Ta’aroa in the 81kg (light heavy weight) division. In the 91kg (heavyweight) class, Vengi Hagai will take on Olivier Terrat from New Caledonia.
Also in the 91kg division, Rarotonga-based Samoan Mathew Titoa will come up against Tahitian Richardet Mahanora.
Squash continues at the Telecom Sports Arena with the Cook Islands women taking on New Caledonia at 5pm, and Fiji playing Papua New Guinea. Samoa women have the bye.
In the men, Fiji has the bye, with New Caledonia playing the Cooks at 1pm, and Samoa and Papua New Guinea squaring off at 5pm.
Tokelau makes its first appearance in the netball competition when it plays Tonga at the TSA at 2pm today. Papua New Guinea will play Niue in the second game at 4.30pm.
The golfers will tee off at 8am and 12 noon today for round two of the golf competition at the Rarotonga Golf Club at Nikao.
At the nearby national tennis centre, play continues in the women’s and men’s team events – start time, 8am.
At the Aroa Nui, the second day of the table tennis team events gets underway, beginning at 9am.
Bowls also start at 9am with play in the men’s and ladies’ pairs and triples.
In athletics, the men’s octathlon event will be completed with the remaining four events scheduled for today at the BCI Stadium at Tereora. Highlights include the women’s hammer throw final, men’s and women’s 800m finals, women’s high jump, men’s 10,000m and the 100 metre finals, starting at 5.40pm.
The 4x100m relays will be held at the end of the night at 6.40pm. - MM

Harmon out!

Cook Islands athlete Harmon Harmon.

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Cook Islands track and field athlete Harmon Harmon was put out of the 2009 Pacific Mini Games after a nasty hamstring injury on the track yesterday.
Harmon sustained the injury during his second attempt at long jump – the second discipline of his octathlon.
Harmon’s father and coach Grover Harmon says that the young athlete is definitely disappointed that he’s had to pull out of the games.
He managed to complete his first octathlon event, the 100m sprint, before his injury.
Harmon was meant to compete after the 100m sprint and long jump disciplines in the shot put, 400m, 110m hurdles, high jump, javelin and the 10,000m long distance run.
- Matariki Wilson

Lal likes his sugar rush

17-year-old Fiji table tennis player Christopher Lal.

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Sugar, and lots of it, is what gives 17-year-old Fiji table tennis player Christopher Lal (pictured) his bouncy nature.
“I have to have sugar – sachets of the stuff or lollipops, just any sugar will do,” said the hyped up table tennis player.
Christopher’s been playing table tennis for three years and over that time he’s won a gold medal at Oceania level and a bronze medal at this year’s Fiji Games.
While spectators around the table tennis competition at the Aroa Nui Hall in Arorangi have tipped him to take out a medal – he’s not of the same mind.
“I don’t hope to win or anything, just up my ranking.”
The modest teenager is in his last year of school at MGM High School in Fiji and reckons he’ll get straight into an accountancy position after he finishes his studies.
- Matariki Wilson

First Cooks medal

Cook Islands discus bronze medallist Tereapii Tapoki.

Cook Islands discus bronze medallist Tereapii Tapoki stands tall and proud as she watches our flag being raised for the first time at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games. 09092274

It’s not a gold medal, but it’ll do.
Those were the words of Cook Islands discus bronze medallist Tereapii Tapoki after stepping down from the podium yesterday with the first medal for Team Cook Islands.
Tereapii snuck in to win the bronze medal with a throw of 48.46m. While she couldn’t crack the 50m mark – she was still happy to win a medal.
Despite not winning the gold medal, Tapoki still remains the Pacific women’s discus champion with her record of 53.68m still standing.
Ana Po’uhila of Tonga attempted to stamp her name in the record book heaving her disc to 53.10m. It was enough to win the gold but 48mm short of the record.
Margaret Satupai of Samoa was the toast of the team after winning the silver medal in discus with a put of 48.46m.
Tereapii had been expected to pick up the gold medal and says that she is disappointed she didn’t perform better. The young athlete was brutally honest when she said, “I could have trained more.”
Tereapii now looks forward to her shotput competition on Saturday. - MW

Melanesians dominate athletics

Teuruerani Tanepau of Tahiti won bronze.

Teuruerani Tanepau of Tahiti won bronze. 09092259

As predicted, Fiji and New Caledonia dominated in the first day of the Pacific Mini Games athletics competition yesterday.
New Caledonia women’s javelin throwers Ramesh Bina and Astrid Waheo won the first medals of the games and of athletics.
Local athletes Samantha Lockington and Tereapii Tapoki put their backs into their throws but were short on reaching a top three placing.
Tapoki went on to win the bronze medal in her preferred discipline of discus with her rival from Tonga Ana Po’uhila winning gold and Samoan athlete Margaret Satupai taking silver.
On the track, Aitutaki athletes shone with Turuariki George Baxter and Tiraa Arere qualifying for the 100m semi finals today.
Fiji’s Kolinio Qarau is the man to watch out for the men’s octathlon after winning the 100m sprints (11.31), long jump (6.26m) and coming second in the shotput with a throw of 9.81m.
Unfortunately for local octathlon athlete Harmon Harmon, a hamstring injury in his second attempt in the long jump saw him retire from the mini games altogether.
Solomon Islands athletes Chris Vatu and Betty Babalu were the team’s shining stars.
Vatu won the gold medal in the three man 3000m steeplechase while 12-year-old Betty Babalu won her one and only race in the 5000m race to take the gold medal.
More medals will be won today in the second day of the athletics competition. - MW

Golfer disqualified

BCI stadium from the air, Pacific Minigames 2009, Cook Islands.

Fiji golfer Sai Lenz watched in horror as her errant tee shot off the 10th smashed through a club house window during round one yesterday. The shot was ruled out of bounds but it could have been even more embarrassing fortunately the ball sailed into the ladies toilets. 09092225

It’s every golfer’s worst nightmare. And Tahiti’s Ronald Simon is still waking up from it.
Yesterday he was disqualified from continuing to play in the Pacific Mini Games individuals golf tournament for an unconscious infringement of the rules.
The rules of golf are clear. Before handing in a score card after a competition round a player must check his score and sign his card.
Ronald has just shot a creditable first round score of 74 in the afternoon round and along with his three team mates handed his card into the scorer.
When told of his error he couldn’t believe he had not signed the card. But unfortunately the rules of golf – and there are lots of them – can never be ignored or altered.
The penalty for not signing a card is disqualification from the tournament.
However, the rules of golf are also complex. He is disqualified from continuing in the individual stroke play side of the tournament but can continue in the teams competition.
This is because the teams competition is based on the best three scores of the four players competing.
So, Ronald’s score of 74, the best of the Tahiti team, will be viewed as the worst score and not counted.
He will be able to continue assisting his team mates in the remaining three rounds of team play. - GC

Security call for patience

Manager of security Tearoa Tini says people have been ‘very, very cooperative’ during the first two days of the games.
“However, there are still things that need to be sorted out,” he says.
People are still unclear on where to park and unless you have an authorised vehicle you can not expect to park directly at the BCI Stadium.
“The parking area is on the western side of the Telecom Sports Arena or the Nikao rugby field directly behind the clinic,” Tini says.
“Unfortunately you can not park on the rugby field as some countries might want to use it for practice.”
Team accommodation security was going well, but he says there were still some people, especially family members, who were trying to enter the villages without prior consent.
“They can go and see them but they have to comply with certain requirements before visiting the Pacific game villages at the school.”
The procedure is to approach the security guard and ask to see the person. They then can come out to meet the visitor and escort them into the village. Times of arrival and departure will be recorded by the guard.
Tini would like to remind locals to continue to set a good example and be patient to ensure the safety of our visitors and an enjoyable games experience.
- Dana Kinita

Grooming now

New Caledonia’s team officials revealed their young athletes at this year’s games are preparing themselves for the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea.
At a press conference yesterday, the president of the New Caledonia national Olympic committee was joined by the country’s sports minister to talk about the preparations for the 2011 games.
The youngest athletes in the 100-strong team for 2009 are 11-year-olds competing in table tennis and golf.
The main aim of the team this year is to expose these younger athletes to the games in anticipation of taking out gold on their home ground in two years time.
New Caledonia is planning to have the maximum number of sports codes allowed for the 2011 games, given that they receive confirmation from at least six countries for each code by November.
Preparations for the Pacific Games are on time – including infrastructure such as the construction of an athlete’s village from the ground up and a competition pool.
- Helen Greig

Cooks bowlers survive tense battle

Cook Islands lead Nelson Akava.

Cook Islands lead Nelson Akava coaxes his bowl to do the right thing during yesterdays pairs round one match against Niue. 09092269

The Cook Islands duo of Kanny Vaile and Mou Tokarangi have made a great start in their bid for gold in the ladies’ pairs division of the Pacific Mini Games lawn bowls tournament.
The pair, who are both gold medalists from the Samoa Pacific Games, beat highly-rated Fiji in the morning and Niue in the afternoon.
It was a tense battle against Fiji with the first set ending in a 10-all draw. The second set went all the way to 13-9.
In round two the local girls beat Nuie 8-6 in the first set and 8-7 in the second.
The Cook Islands men’s pair of Nelson Akava and David Akaruru made tougher going of the competition with a morning win against Papua New Guinea but took a sound beating from Fiji, 15-2 and 15-7, in the second round.
Triples play was underway yesterday evening with play expected to finish under lights around 8pm.
Today sees two more triples rounds and round three of the pairs this afternoon.
As predicted the big clash at the Rarotonga Bowls Club this week, as bowlers play a round robin of pairs and triples matches, is expected to be between the local Cook Islands team and Fiji.
World Bowls representative and technical advisor Kerry Clark believes it will be a very open contest with the Cook Islands expected to be “right up there”.
The very strong challenge expected from Fiji has already materialised in the men’s play. Fiji have the advantage of intensive international competition, having performed well in the Asia Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games and world tournament levels.
Clark says with the standard of bowls across the Pacific rising, the other nations can’t be ruled out. Teams from Niue and Tokelau, with players based in Auckland have good coaching regimes and all have a chance to make a name for themselves as new nations on the world bowls scene. - GC

3 easy wins

Cook Islands tennis player Bret Baudinet.

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Cook Islands number one tennis player Brett Baudinet stretches out to return a ball from Kiribati number one Ioera Tooti in the team’s singles tennis matches yesterday.
First seed Baudinet had a straight set win over Tooti 6-1, 6-1.
Second seed Sam Tangaroa defeated his Kiribati opponent 6-2, 7-5.
In the doubles the local boys took the win 6-1, 6-1 in straight sets in what was a cruisey start to the tennis competition.
This morning Cook Islands ladies Brittany Teei and Davina Hosking play their Pool A singles and doubles matches against Tonga. - GC

Barbara eyes another gold

Barbara Stubbings (below) is Papua New Guinea’s top female squash player.

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Barbara Stubbings (below) is Papua New Guinea’s top female squash player and is tipped to take out the gold medal.
It’s been four years since Barbara last took part in a Pacific Games competition and she’s thrilled to be back in the fold.
At the 2005 Pacific Games in Fiji, Barbara won the gold medal and says that it would be just great to add another medal to her collection.
“I’ve had a big break and it’s good to be back,” says Barbara.While she’s not playing squash, Barbara is a fulltime mum and sports coach in schools across Papua New Guinea.
Barbara had nothing but praise for the new glass backed squash courts at the Telecom Sports Arena.
“What a wonderful facility. It’s amazing and the people that built really did put a lot of thought into it.”
Barbara looks forward to carrying out her responsibilities as the number one female squash player for PNG – the reigning regional squash champions. - MW

Niue schoolgirl scouted

When Niue’s netball team takes to the court today, a 16-year-old school girl will be holding out the defence against the Cook Islands.
Danielle Fuemana is the youngest player in the Niue team and she says she is pumped, proud and ready for action.
Fuemana is attending Auckland Girls’ Grammar School in New Zealand where she plays netball for the school. Recently she got scouted for the Niue team and she hopes she gets to take home a medal.
Fuemana says joining the team has helped her to improve her skills and make new friends with the other team members. She also sees the opportunity in Rarotonga to be a part of something big in the Pacific.
The Niue team is made up of 12 players with the oldest player being 42 years old. They play the home side today at 4pm at the Telecom Sports Arena in Nikao.
Last month two players from AGGS were involved in the World Youth Netball Championships in Rarotonga – Kayla Cullen for New Zealand, and Alana Smith for the Cook Islands. - TP

Sub par golf on first day

One of New Caledonias trio of teenage golfers, Charlotte Navarro.

One of New Caledonias trio of teenage golfers, Charlotte Navarro, plays a crisp fairway iron into the 9th on her way to shooting a sub par round of 69 and the best ladies score of the day at the first round of PMG golf competition. 09092227

An almost immaculate four-under morning round of 66 saw Fiji’s Vikrant Chandra command the top of the leaderboard after yesterday first round of the men’s division of the PMG golf tournament.
A very noteable sub par round of 69 from New Caledonia’s 17-year-old Charlotte Navarro saw her take a commanding lead of the ladies’ field after round one.
Chandra’s five birdie, one bogey effort underpinned his team’s lead with a first round 211 total in the teams competition, four strokes better than Cook Islands who put in a solid 215 stroke team effort piloted by Kirk Tuaiti with a one over 71. Daniel Webb carded 72 and Sonny Karati 72.
Fourth team member James Herman shot 77. Samoa with 217 is in third place. New Caledonia are in fourth helped by a par round from Jean-Max Ho.
The best three total stroke scores amass for the team’s competition.
In the ladies’ play, Cook Islands took the morning team lead with 233 thanks to a strong par round from 14-year-old Elmay Viking. Elmay shot 70, including five birdies, with an out of bounds two stroke penalty on the 12th. Team mates Alice Pilkinton shot 80, Maara Kenning 83 and Tuaine Marsters 85.
The local girls were edged back to second after Tahiti posted an afternoon team score of 232. Vaiana Tehaamatai had the best Tahiti round with 76.
New Caledonia is in third place with 239 thanks to Charlotte Navarro’s sub par 69 which beat most of the men’s scores yesterday.
Other individual rounds worthy of note today were Tahiti’s Patrick Fepuleai with 70.
Niue’s Jeremy Tolitule shot 71 as did Fiji’s Roneel Prakash.
Solomon’s sole competitor George Rukabo and Samoa’s Van Wright shot 72.
- Gray Clapham

Tiny Babalu wins big

Betty Babalu (far left) on her way to the finishing line in the twilight race yesterday.

Betty Babalu (far left) on her way to the finishing line in the twilight race yesterday. 09092286

She went in as the tiniest athlete on the track but walked out the boldest after the contest. Young Betty Babalu was over the moon last night after clinching the women’s 5000 metres title at the BCI Stadium.
The 12-year-old Solomon Islander could not wish for anything else than a golden debut.
The last event of day one lived up to its expectation with neck–to-neck race between Babalu and Fijian Sereima Liku.
The Malaita Province, Solomon Islands, primary school student clocked 20 minutes 10.29 seconds to beat Liku.
Liku, who managed to clock in 20 min 10.67s, gave away her lead just five metres away from the mark.
Babalu started the race on a high until the final 100m remained, in which Liku gained the pace and took the lead from her.
But Babalu was not willing to give away the race so easily, making an emphatic comeback in the last five metres.
“This is unbelievable… I’m really excited and my dreams came true today (yesterday),” she said.
“Now I have realised that I have potential in me to compete in such big events. This win has given me a big challenge – and that is to maintain this title.”
The bronze medal went to New Caledonia’s Anne Ioneba. She clocked a time of 20 min 20.63.
The similar feat was achieved by Fiji’s Akesa Drotini in 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa.
- Rashneel Kumar

Fijians head 100m sprint showdown

Fijian favourite Niko Verekauta (far left) in winning form yesterday.

Fijian favourite Niko Verekauta (far left) in winning form yesterday. 09092285

FIJI sprinters have taken early leads in the men’s 100m sprint event.
Niko Verekauta, Mataiasi Cyril Savou and Banuve Tabakaucoro will be competing in the semi-finals today as the top three runners in this Pacific Mini Games.
Verekauta, who is competing in the blue ribbon event for the first time in PMG, clocked the fastest time at the newly built BCI Stadium synthetic track yesterday.
The Nabukelevuira villager from Fiji stopped the clock at 10.73 seconds and heads into the semi-finals as the top contender to win the gold medal.
Traditionally a middle distance runner, Verekauta had his eyes fixed on the 100m title from the beginning of the PMG.
“The tracks are new and quite fast. It was a good race,” he said.
Suva Grammar student Savou was at his best after he clocked the second best time in heats.
He ran a time of 10.74s, breaking his personal best of 10.75s.
Fiji’s recent running sensation Tabakaucoro clocked the third best time of 10.79s.
The women’s 100m sprint heats which were scheduled for yesterday were cancelled due to limited number of athletes taking part. All athletes taking part in this race have qualified for the semi-finals today.
Fiji’s sprint queen Makelesi Bulikiobo looks the favourite in this race.
The men’s and women’s 100 finals will be held at 5.40pm and 5.50pm respectively. - RK

From walkover to near upset

Boxer Rei Marcus Jack (at right)

Rei Marcus Jack (at right) put up a brave showing in his 69kg fight last night against a Kiribati boxer. 09092287

The first Cook Islands boxer went out of the Pacific Mini Games competition, without throwing a punch.
Well almost.
Rei Marcus Jack’s name was put into yesterday morning’s 69kg class draw, in the hope that he would draw a bye so that he could overcome a chest complaint.
Jack was drawn to fight a Kiribati boxer last night, and Mikaobo Tooma was declared to have won the match by a walkover, at the draw.
But come last night Jack fronted up to face the Kiribati boxer and almost caused an upset leading on points 4-2 in the second round. Tooma levelled the score and put a standing eight count on Jack, and then controlled the third round to win 6-4.
In the 75kg bout, Samoa’s Afaese Fatakalepi was too strong for local boy Eddie Daniel, pushing out to a 3-1 lead in the first round, powering away to 7-1 in the second and then easing back to win 10-1 at the end.
In an ironic twist, one person in the Cook Islands squad will turn out tonight for … Samoa!
Mathew Titoa, who was originally selected for the Pacific Mini Games, but did not qualify as he did not possess a New Zealand passport, will fight in the 91kg division against a Tahitian opponent Richardet Mahanora.
Cook Islands coach Tom Marsters said that the Samoans had approached him to ask if he could box for his homeland, and Titoa had given his consent only yesterday morning.
“I think he was very reluctant because he is looking at boxing for the Cook Islands in the future.”
Marsters joked that if Titoa wins a medal, it will be for the Cooks.
“We have trained him right up to now – he has made the Cook Islands his home.”
Last night Eric Bossuet (Tahiti) beat Mohammed Shahmeem (Fiji) in the 57kg category (16-2), and Tahitian Albert Temaititahio kept out Isimeli Cagica from Fiji (10-8) in the 69kg class.
The boxing competition will continue this evening at 7pm.
Cook Islanders Osolai Akai and Vengi Hagai will appear in the ring tonight. - MM