In pictures: 2025 Pacific Mini Games day one
Fiji women's indoor volleyball team (blue top) made a strong start on the first day of competition beating American Samoa 3–2 in their first Pool A match.
Photo:
Facebook / Team Fiji
The 2025 Pacific Mini Games kicked off on Monday, with baseball, softball, swimming, va'a, volleyball and wrestling first off the blocks.
Tahiti set the tone with a
commanding medal haul
at the end of day one of competitions, followed by the Marshall Islands and Samoa respectively.
The Mini Games organisers described the opening day as and "exciting start" filled with "incredible energy and sportsmanship".
The va'a races on day one were nothing short of breathtaking, the organisers of the Mini Games said, adding "Under the Palauan sun and across crystal-clear waters, the 500m female, male, and Mixed crews gave it their all, with strength, precision, and pure island pride!"
Photo:
Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games
Tahiti made waves in the water and dominated the swimming events on day one of the competition.
Photo:
Facebook / Team Fiji
The podium finishers in the female V1 500m va'a race from Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti.
Photo:
Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games
Va'a competitors from Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Palau, PNG, and the Norther Mariana Islands on day one.
Photo:
Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau
Team PNG's softball player Rosa Maira delivering one of her pitches against Northern Marianas on the first day of competition. Team PNG put up a strong challenge against Northern Marianas to hold off a strong finish by their opponents to win 7-6.
Photo:
Facebook / Team PNG
Elenoa Vateitei of Fiji with her spoils on day one of the competition.
Photo:
Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games
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RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
In pictures: 2025 Pacific Mini Games day one
Fiji women's indoor volleyball team (blue top) made a strong start on the first day of competition beating American Samoa 3–2 in their first Pool A match. Photo: Facebook / Team Fiji The 2025 Pacific Mini Games kicked off on Monday, with baseball, softball, swimming, va'a, volleyball and wrestling first off the blocks. Tahiti set the tone with a commanding medal haul at the end of day one of competitions, followed by the Marshall Islands and Samoa respectively. The Mini Games organisers described the opening day as and "exciting start" filled with "incredible energy and sportsmanship". The va'a races on day one were nothing short of breathtaking, the organisers of the Mini Games said, adding "Under the Palauan sun and across crystal-clear waters, the 500m female, male, and Mixed crews gave it their all, with strength, precision, and pure island pride!" Photo: Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games Tahiti made waves in the water and dominated the swimming events on day one of the competition. Photo: Facebook / Team Fiji The podium finishers in the female V1 500m va'a race from Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti. Photo: Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games Va'a competitors from Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Palau, PNG, and the Norther Mariana Islands on day one. Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau Team PNG's softball player Rosa Maira delivering one of her pitches against Northern Marianas on the first day of competition. Team PNG put up a strong challenge against Northern Marianas to hold off a strong finish by their opponents to win 7-6. Photo: Facebook / Team PNG Elenoa Vateitei of Fiji with her spoils on day one of the competition. Photo: Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Taputu claims 2025 Pacific Mini Games' first gold medal as Tahiti dominates opening day
Tahiti dominated in the va'a (pictured) and the swimming on day one. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/Facebook Tahiti's Teimoana Taputu claimed the first gold medal at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, taking out the V1 500 metres open men's final in va'a (outrigger) racing. His win also opened the campaign for gold by the French territory, which ended day one with 18 medals and leading the medal tally. Tahiti leads the tally with nine gold, seven silver and two bronze. Taputu finished the V1 500 metres final in 2 minutes 15.59 seconds, ahead of Wallis and Futuna's Aymeruc Kanimoa, who claimed silver in 2 minutes 20.48 seconds. Tahiti's Teimoana Taputu claimed the first gold medal at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, taking out the V1 500 metres open men's final in va'a (outrigger) racing. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/Facebook Fijian Raymond Rusivakula claimed bronze for his country in a time of 2 minutes 25.30 seconds. Tahiti dominated in the va'a and the swimming. Marshall Islands and Northern Marianas were also on the medal tally with their own golden wins. Samoa's Anne Cairns claimed her country's first gold medal with a winning performance in the women's V1 500 metres final. She finished the race in 2 minutes 36.29 seconds, ahead of Fiji's Elenoa Vateitei and Tahiti's Ranitea Mamatu'i. Rain caused the cancellation of the baseball competition, with clashes between Fiji and the Federated State of Micronesia plus the game between Palau and NMI, in the men's competition, both rained out. Team Fiji athletes with their spoils in the V12 500-meter competition. 30 June 2025 Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games Hosts Palau spiked off the women's volleyball competition on Monday morning, with a 3-1 win over Northern Marianas in the opening match of the day. Palau lost the first set 17-25 but then rebounded to claim the following three sets, 25-17, 25-13 and 26-24. In other matches in the volleyball competition, Tahiti defeated Nauru 3-0 while Fiji pipped American Samoa 3-2 in a tightly contested match. Papua New Guinea started their campaign in the men's volleyball competition with a 3-0 win over Nauru while Tahiti proved too strong for Northern Marianas, with a 3-0 win as well. The hosts Palau finished off day one with one gold and a silver, the gold coming from wrestler Raiden Hobson Decherong, who won the men's freestyle 50-kilogram final, beating Vincent Palacios of the Northern Marianas. Nauru Wrestling praised the performances of two young wrestlers who claimed bronze medals in the competition. Rising stars Isaiah Agege and Tyson Hedmon managed to claim medals in their debut appearances for their country. "At just 19 and 15 years old, respectively, these young warriors stepped onto the international stage for the very first time and delivered performances well beyond their years," Nauru Wrestling said in a statement. "Their success not only opened Nauru's medal tally on day one but also ignited a wave of pride back home and inspired the Pacific sporting community." Samoa ended the first day of competition with three gold medals. Va'a paddler Cairns was joined by wrestlers Shane Palemia and Ekitoa Tamati as the gold medallists for their country. Palemia outpointed American Samoa's Latana Sopa 11-0 to win the gold in the male 86kg freestyle wrestling, while Tamati defeated American Samoa's Amo Loe in the male 97kg freestyle wrestling. Micronesian neighbours Palau and the Federated State of Micronesia battled in the opening clash in the females' catogory. FSM claimed the win scoring 12-2. Guam defeated the Marshall Islands 5-4 while Papua New Guinea pipped NMI 7-6. In the last event of the day, FSM defeated Palau 3-0 in the men's volleyball competition. Team PNG paddlers with their spoils at the end of day one of competition. 30 June 2025 Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games The top medal winners from the previous Mini Games, in 2022 in Saipan, have started their campaign slowly. Team Papua New Guinea claimed two silver medals on Monday. Their first medal came from the sport of va'a. The PNG va'a mixed team won silver in the V12 500m, finishing second behind Tahiti, while Fiji got the bronze medal. PNG's va'a team finished the race in a time of 2 minutes and 0.67 seconds, while Tahiti stopped the clock at 1:58.16s, with Fiji in third at 2:02.61s. As the rest of their Team Solomons contingent started competing at the Games, the country's weightlifting team announced they had pulled out of the event. Island Sun in Honiara reported that Solomon Islands Weightlifting had no choice but to pull out of the Games at the last minute because they did not have enough funds to send a full team. Efforts to try and get a statement from the weightlifting federation have been unsuccessful. But Island Sun reported the federation stated all team members decided to forgo the Games when they were asked to reduce their travelling numbers last week. The Games competition continues on Tuesday, with more medals at stake in swimming, Va'a and wrestling on day two. Competition in archery and 3x3 basketball also begin on Tuesday. 2025 Pacific Mini Games medal tally at the end of day one of competitions on 30 June 2025. Photo: RNZ Pacific
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
'Rise together': 2025 Pacific Mini Games officially underway
2025 Pacific Mini Games opening ceremony. 29 July 2025 Photo: Facebook / 2025 Pacific Mini Games, Palau The 2025 Pacific Mini Games are officially underway after Sunday's opening ceremony formally launched the event in Palau's capital, Koror. Rain fell for parts of the ceremony, which saw athletes march in and the Games flame lit. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr welcomed visitors and declared the Games open. He urged the athletes to compete fiercely and do their best. "Remember, lift each other higher, celebrate every victory, and rise together after every fall. Because in the Pacific, we are not just stewards of our islands - we are champions for each other. "Let these games be a shining example of what we can achieve when we stand together," he added. Pacific Games Council president Vidya Larkhan said the event is the biggest Mini Games to date, adding that the Pacific is lucky to be celebrating such and event when others in some parts of the world are suffering because of conflicts. "We should consider ourselves as people of the Pacific very fortunate in that when there is war waging in some parts of the world, we are able to meet and celebrate our Games in a peaceful and healthy environment," Lakhan said. "These 2025 Pacific Mini games is the biggest Games in the history of the Pacific Mini Games. I am informed that when the numbers were finalised, just under 2000 athetes and officials are here." PalauMini Games organising committee chairman Dr Patrick Tellei urged participants to work on strenthening the bonds between the Pacific countries, while enjoying the spirit of competition at the Games. "Compete to the best of your abilities, connect and network with each other, make friends and use the sport. Please strengthen the bonds between our countries and their people," he said. Monday's action begins at 8:30am local time (11:30 NZT) and includes baseball, softball, swimming, va'a, volleyball and wrestling. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/YouTube screenshot Northern Marianas runner Tania Tan is aiming to repeat her 2023 Pacific Games success in Palau. Tan, 23, is entered in the 5000m, 10,000m, and half marathon. She holds the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) national records in the 5000m and 10,000m among other middle-distance events. The Mini Games athletics competition will run 4-9 July at Palau National Track and Field. Tan said training out of Hawai'i has given her an edge. "There's a good mix of terrain, climate, and a competitive running community pushing me to improve," she said. "I've focused on building a strong base with long runs, tempo work, and strength training - while also making sure to recover and stay injury-free." Tan said she sees the expectations from fans and coaches as motivation rather than pressure. "Pressure is a privilege, so I feel honored that this time around, I will be the one to look out for," Tan said. "All we can do on race day is give our best." Northern Marianas Athletics secretary-general Robin Sapong noted that the team had a solid pre-race session last Saturday. "Tania looks strong and healthy. She just needs to run her race. "Other countries are fielding three runners per event, suggesting team tactics. On paper, a runner from New Caledonia leads the 10,000m this season, so it should be competitive." Teams gathering together right before the Opening Ceremony began. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/Facebook Tan will be joined by Maria Quitugua, Kaithlyn Chavez, Victor Nash Santos, Theodore Rodgers, Simon Tang, and Lyle Andrew - many of whom medaled at the 2024 Micronesian Games in Majuro. Elias Rangamar, who coaches the team locally, said: "We only have a few athletes going to Palau, but these are competitive ones with real chances to medal or make finals." Quitugua, gold medalist in javelin at the Micro Games, will compete in javelin and the 100m run. Andrew, Majuro's hammer throw champion, will enter hammer, discus, and shotput. Chavez will race the 800m and 1,500m, Santos is entered in the 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m, while Tang will run the 110m and 400m hurdles. Out of the Pacific Games Council's 24 members, 20 nations will compete in athletics, including associate member Australia, which is sending 21 athletes. Rangamar said this level of competition will provide invaluable experience for the Marianas athletes: "This is a great chance to go up against the best in Oceania." Tan expressed gratitude to supporters: "First, I want to thank my family and community back home in Saipan - they've always supported me, even from across the ocean. And to my running friends in Hawai'i, the Northern Marianas Sports Association, and everyone behind the scenes - this journey is never solo." Team Marianas fields a 161-member delegation to the Mini Games.
