Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games

PNG swimmers Georgia-Leigh Vele (Women's 100m Butterfly), Britney Murray (Women's 50m Backstroke) and the 4×200m Freestyle (Men's and Women's) have qualified for tonight’s finals.

The finals at the Samoa Aquatic Centre will start at 6pm (3pm PNG time).

Sam Seghers also qualified for the Men's 100m Butterfly final tonight but has withdrawn to focus on the 4×200m Freestyle final.

Meantime, New Caledonia is leading with eight gold medals under its belt, seven silver and six bronze.

Favourites Papua New Guinea and Samoa ended the day (July 8) as the top ranked teams.

Fiji and Tonga are the other two nations vying for silverware, while Cook Islands, Tokelau and Solomon Islands dropped have out of medal contention.

Top seeds PNG, looking to defend their title from the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games, opened the day with a 10-0 win against Tonga in pool A.

Also in pool A, Fiji edged Samoa 14-12 in a tight contest early in the afternoon before the weather deteriorated.

In subsequent matches PNG beat Fiji 10-4 and Samoa beat Tonga 10-8.

“The Games Organising Committee and Office are excited to release the first schedule for the upcoming Games. The release of the basketball schedule will enable teams to prepare well for the upcoming competition,” said Taupau Alex Mikaele, Sports Services Manager.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have worked alongside the Office in preparations for the Games which will be held from 8 – 17 July.