Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has praised the Tongan team for winning the kingdom’s highest Games medal tally.
Tonga came seventh overall in the medal tally at the Pacific Games which have been held in Samoa for the past fortnight.
“I am very proud of all of the members of Team Tonga,” Hon. Pōhiva said.
“This is a major achievement for Tonga and full credit must go to the individual members of Team Tonga as well as the managers, coaches and support staff.”
The Prime Minister said he had stated in Parliament earlier this year Tonga would achieve the highest number of Gold Medals in the 2019 Pacific Games because of the government’s reform of the administration and management of sport in the kingdom.
“The Government will do its best to ensure that Team Tonga’s success can be built upon for future competition,” Hon. Pōhiva said.
Top medal winners for Tonga were:
‘Aiake Tu’itupou, gold for the men’s 109kg+ , clean and jerk and 109kg+ overhead; bronze for men’s 109kg+ snatch;
Mosese Foliaki, gold for the men’s high jump and 110m hurdle;
Malia Peeke’ gold for the women’s team taekwondo and the women’ 57-62kg taekwondo and
Ato Maama Tu’utafaiva, gold for women’s shotput and bronze for women’ discuss.
Other gold medal winners included Lile Loumoli for the women’ team taekwondo; Moala Takelo for the 80-87kg taekwondo; the men’s taekwondo team and Semii Fanguna and Matavao Fanguna for the men’ tennis doubles
Tonga came seventh overall in the Pacific Games medal tally.
The kingdom’ athletes won a total of 29 medals, including nine gold, five silver and 15 bronze.
Tonga beat New Zealand, which gained a total of 24 medal.
Fiji came fifth with 116 medal and host Samoa came third with 125.
New Caledonia led the medal tally with 182 medal, including 76 gold, 55 silver and 51 bronze.
The main points
- Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has praised the Tongan team for winning the kingdom’s highest Games medal tally.
- Tonga came seventh overall in the medal tally at the Pacific Games which have been held in Samoa for the past fortnight.
