Category Archives: Oceania

Kasmira Engichy , Pacific Daily News Published 7:01 p.m. ChT June 29, 2017 | Updated 5 hours ago

Guam-born Scott James Fiti, foreground, of Tamuning, recently represented Chuuk in the Oceania Championships in Fiji. In the 100 meter race, he was fourth overall with a time of 10.94 according to the event website. He's shown in a selfie with Team Guam and Team FSM athletes.(Photo: Courtesy of Enjack Herman)

Track and field athletes throughout the region of Oceania are in Suva, Fiji to compete in the Oceania Area Championships 2017.

The Team Guamrepresentatives have fared well on the first day of the championshipsdespite the tough competition.

"So far the results are okay, we were expecting a little better but the last two days have been really cold and rainy," said coach Jay Antonio, "Our youngest athlete, Joseph Aguon did well and made it to the finals. We still have Josh Ilustre yet to run so we'll see if team Guam can do better."

Ilustre represented Guam in athletics at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. He entered the 800-meter run and ran a personal best time for the track but was later disqualified for stepping out of his lane.

In the Men's 400-meter Under 18 race,Aguon finished in eighth place with a time of 55.32, about four seconds away from the first place winner.

READ MORE:

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Athan Arizanga, finished in 10th place overall with a time of 53.07 after running to a fourth place finish inthe first heat of the Men's 400-meter Under 20 race.

In the Men's 100-meter Senior race, Bleu Perez finished at No. 19 with a time of 11.43. He raced in the second heat.

Genie Gerardo represented Guam in the Women's Shot Put 4.00 kg Senior and she finished with a throwing distance of 10.67 meters. In early June, she shattered Guam's 20-year-old national record with a throw of11.09 meters.

"Our under 18-athletes, Richelle Tugade and Aidan Quitigua should do well in their respective events," said Antonio.

The competition will continue today at the ANZ Stadium.

Guam-born Scott Fiti places 4th overall in sprint

Guam-born Scott James Fiti, who resides in Tamuning, raced on behalf of Chuuk. Fiti completed his 100-meter in 4th place overall with a time of 10.94on day one of the championships.

Fiti trains with the FAS Athletic Club on Guam.

"Scott did good in his race and finished first in his heat despite apoor start a bad take-off but thatplaced him in fourth overall and he is running in the semifinal," said Karatel Phillip, one of Fiti's coaches.

Reporter Kasmira Engichy covers Guam sports. Follow her on Twitter @kasmiraengichy. Follow Pacific Daily News on Facebook/GuamPDN and Instagram @guampdn.

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2017 Oceania area championships in Fiji - Guam Pacific Daily News - Pacific Daily News

The Rio 2016 Olympian was in fine form, as he beat New Zealands Keegan O'Kane to advance to the gold medal contest.

He will face the challenge of Sam Goodman, with the Australian having overcome Noki Beupu of Papua New Guinea in his semi-final bout.

Naurus Colan Caleb and New Zealands Richard Hadlow will clash in the light-welterweight final, with the pair having beaten Papua New Guineas John Ume and Tongas Fineasi Tuipulotu respectively.

Fiji will boast one fighter in todays finals, with Winston Hill having advanced in the mens welterweight.

Hill, the top seed, defeated New Zealands Leroy Hindley in the semi-finals.

He will take on the host nations Andrew Hunt, with the Australian having beaten John Barry Slade Moleni of Tonga in the last four.

Campbell Somerville will fail to advance to the middleweight final in front of a home crowd, losing to New Zealands Ryan Scaife.

Scaife will take on Henry Tyrell in the gold medal match, with the Samoan having won his semi-final with Naurus Francis Togagae.

New Zealands Patrick Mailata secured a place in the super heavyweight final by beating Samoas Ishmael Liaina.

He will now face Australias Joseph Goodall.

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the 10 weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

All finals will be held today.

Photo: Facebook Boxing Australia/www.sportspics.com.au

See the article here:

Pacific fighters progress to Oceania Boxing Championships final - Loop PNG

June 29, 2017

Athletics

Papua New Guinea has made a good start to the opening day of the Oceania Track and Field Athletics Championships being held in Suva, Fiji yesterday. PNG won two gold medals plus a silver in the opening session. Rellie Kaputin won the long jump with her fifth jump of the competition, leap-frogging Australian Jessie Harper who had led from the first round, said Athletics PNG president Tony Green. There were no records this time for Kaputin but she did have the satisfaction of being the only athlete to record six legal jumps, taking off behind the board every time. Simbai Kaspar was the surprise winner of the mens 5000m in a time of 15mins 50 seconds which is just a shade outside his personal best of 15min 49 set in 2015. Fellow Simbu athlete Abel Siune won silver in the U-20 mens 5000m. Young Roland Hure in his first overseas competition was just one centimetre outside the medals in the U20 long jump, Green added. Theo Piniau and Ephraim Lerkin cruised through the 400m semi finals and are set for an epic battle in todays final with Australias Murray Goodwin and Fijian Samuela Railoa threatening to spoil the PNG party. With a place in the World Championships at stake for the three Island athletes this promises to be the best race of the Championships. In the U-20 division, Emmanuel Wanga and Damien Kotou both qualified for the final. The in-form Wanga will face a strong challenge from Australias Louis Stenmark, Green added. Wesley Logorava, Nazmie Lee Marai and Charles Livuan all advanced to the 100m semi finals and Toea Wisil was a class apart in the womens 100m semi-final. However her (Wisil) hopes of running a world championship qualifier are not being helped by the windy conditions, said Green. Competition continues this afternoon with the mens long jump, womens javelin and the heptathlon getting underway, whilst on the track the 100m semi finals will be followed by walking events then the 400m finals. The session will end today with the 100m finals at 7.05pm.

Waisake Naholo will start on the right wing for the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, with Ngani Laumape set to continue his remarkable rise after being brought into the match-day 23 following Ryan Crottys hamstring injury.

Usain Bolts preparations for the world championships received a jolt as he struggled to win his penultimate race before defending his 100m and 4x100m titles in London and then admitted to having some health issues with a stiff back.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has handed captain Sam Warburton a start in one of three changes to the side beaten 30-15 last weekend for Saturdays second test against New Zealand.

Waisake Naholo will start on the right wing for the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, with Ngani Laumape set to continue his remarkable rise after being brought into the match-day 23 following Ryan Crottys hamstring injury.

Usain Bolts preparations for the world championships received a jolt as he struggled to win his penultimate race before defending his 100m and 4x100m titles in London and then admitted to having some health issues with a stiff back.

Excerpt from:

As PNG opens up on a high note at the Oceania Athletics Championships - POST-COURIER

Oceania Athletics executive director Yvonne Mullins indicated this to the healthy growth of athletics in the Oceanic region.

"Six hundred and seventeen athletes are here and this is our largest Oceania championships," Mullins said.

"The sport is alive and well in the Oceania region and the best are here.

"So if the best are here that means we got a far broader participation base out there. We are growing."

On the same note, Oceania Athletics president Geoff Gardner said they like to see their sport (athletics) as a sport that fed other sports.

"We like to see ourselves as a sport that feeds other sports with the skills because athletics is seen as the mother of all sports and because of the strength, endurance, speed and agility," Gardner said.

He said the growth in the number of quality athletes competing in the region was also a positive sign for athletics. Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee CEO Lorraine Mar said it was not going to be one group that would be making it happen.

"I think it is about us creating the environment that will get the performances," Mar said.

The competition which starts today will be featuring athletes from the following Oceanic countries: American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Samoa and Polynesie Francaise.

Photo: Yvonne Mullins Oceania Athletics executive director

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Fiji hosts Oceania Athletics Championships - Loop PNG

The top seed in the weight division produced an assured performance against Samoas Filimaua Hala.

Whateley, who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympics, earned victory by a unanimous decision.

He will now face New Zealands David Kieran Nyika in the gold medal match, with his rival having won against Papua New Guineas Talamoni Clayton Kami yesterday.

Australian success continued with Andrew Hunt progressing in the mens bantamweight division.

He defeated Papua New Guineas Andrew Aisaga.

At the same weight there were victories for Tongas John Barry Slade Moldeni and New Zealands Leroy Clinton Hindley.

They overcame Samoas Uilaomatagi Ropeti Sinapatia and Mel-Lachlan Halstead of Nauru respectively.

Papua New Guineas John Ume upset the host nation in the light-welterweight event.

He ended the challenge of Australias Daniel Heyes.

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the 10 weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

Action is continuing today, with the finals due to take place on Thursday (June 29).

Original post:

Oceania Boxing Championships off to a good start | Loop PNG - Loop PNG

Last updated07:20, June 28 2017

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Charlisse Leger-Walker is expected to play a starring role for New Zealand at the FIBA U17 Womens Oceania Championships in Guam.

A relatively young and inexperienced New Zealand under-18 women's basketball team will contest next month'sFIBAunder-17 Oceania championships in Guam.

However, head coachJodyCameron said that the Guam tournament, which runs from July 9-15, was a chance for the players to step upafter the majority of the Junior Tall Ferns hadmoved on to US college scholarships or were past the age of eligibility.

"The current pool of players has worked hard to get to next level. We are really happy with the commitment from them and their families, and every playerwe'venamed thoroughly deserves their spot in this team," Cameronsaid.

New Zealand will compete inpool B alongsideNew Caledonia, home favourites Guam, and Palau. Favourites Australia are in pool A with Tahiti, Samoa and the Marshall Islands.

READ MORE: * Tall Ferns selected * Wildcats demolish Otago * Youngsters' skills amaze

Despite their youth, one player expected to attract plenty of attention is young Waikato playerCharlisse Leger-Walker who is regarded asone of New Zealand's most exciting youth women's prospects. Leger-Walker played for New Zealand at both theFIBA Oceania under-16 and under-18 women's tournaments over the past two years.

Similar to the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks, New Zealand age-group teams are also subject to new qualification rules thanks to FIBA's new Asia Zone. Previously New Zealand age-groups teams were required to be number one in Oceania to qualify for a FIBA World Cup. Now, teams are required to be within the top two in Oceania, which qualifies them to play in the FIBA Asia age-group championships.

The team will then have to finish in the top four in that tournament to qualify for the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Under-18 New Zealand Women's Team:Aimee Book (Canterbury),Lauryn Hippolite (Canterbury),Grace Hunter (Wellington),Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato), Leah Mafua(Hutt Valley),Lauryn Mapusua(Basketball Queensland),Tsubasa Nisbet (Canterbury),Olivia O'Neill(Otago), Lily Rangi (Counties Manukau),Keeley Tini (Harbour),Lawrin Tipene (Wellington),Charlotte Whittaker(North Canterbury).

-Stuff

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Inexperienced New Zealand team heading to FIBA U17 Oceania ... - Stuff.co.nz

The national Iranian men's sitting volleyball team has notched a resounding win in its opening match at the 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships in China, and triumphed over the Japanese squad.

The Iranian squad blanked the East Asian team 3-0 (25-7, 25-16 and 25-11) in its first game of tournament in the southern Chinese city ofHangzhou on Tuesday.

Later in the day, Iran women's national sitting volleyball team sankKazakhstan 3-0 in straight sets (25-17, 25-7 and 25-8) in their second preliminary round match.

Iran men's national sitting volleyball team is scheduled to face China on Wednesday. Iranian physically-challenged sportswomen will take on their Mongolian counterparts as well.

The 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships opened in Hangzhou, China, on June 27, and will wrap up on July 3.

The tournament has brought together national mens sitting volleyball teams from China, Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.

National mens sitting volleyball teams from China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia are in action as well.

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Iran defeats Japan in 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships - Press TV

Australias heavyweight Jason Whateley made light work of his opening fight at the Oceania Boxing Confederation Boxing Championships in Gold Coast.

The top seed in the weight division produced an assured performance against Samoas Filimaua Hala.

Whateley, who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympics, earned victory by a unanimous decision.

He will now face New Zealands David Kieran Nyika in the gold medal match, with his rival having won against Papua New Guineas Talamoni Clayton Kami today.

Australian success continued with Andrew Hunt progressing in the mens bantamweight division.

He defeated Papua New Guineas Andrew Aisaga.

At the same weight there were victories for Tongas John Barry Slade Moldeni and New Zealands Leroy Clinton Hindley.

They overcame Samoas Uilaomatagi Ropeti Sinapatia and Mel-Lachlan Halstead of Nauru respectively.

Papua New Guineas John Ume upset the host nation in the light-welterweight event.

He ended the challenge of Australias Daniel Heyes.

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the 10 weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

Action will continue tomorrow, with the finals due to take place on Thursday (June 29).

Original post:

Australian heavyweight advances at Oceania Boxing Championships - Insidethegames.biz (blog)

THE Philippine Floorball Association (PFA) is in high spirits for its campaign in the First Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC) Tournament in Bangkok set for six days starting on Saturday.

The primary goal is to take home our first victory, mens head coach Peter Eriksson told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.

PFA President Ralph Ramos that the teams to beat in the AOFC Cup are Singapore and Thailand.

The Singapore Floorball Association is the top seed in Asia since the 1990s, according to Ramos.

The eight participating countries will be divided into two groups. The Philippines is in Group A with China, Iran and Singapore, while Group B is composed of India, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand.

Ramos said floorball was first introduced to Filipinos in 2010 by a Swedish doing missionary work. The Philippines was recognized by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) on May 8, 2011, as its 53rd member-country.

The PFA maintains clubs at University of the Philippines Diliman, University of Makati, UA&P and De La Salle Zobel. They also organize the Philippine Floorball League (PFL) held every year since 2012.

The Philippiness first international debut was in the inaugural Southeast Asian Floorball Championship in 2014 in Singapore. The mens national team also competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games also in Singapore.

The team will depart tomorrow for Bangkok. The Filipinos will face China on July 1.

Read more:

Filipino floorball athletes vie in Asia Oceania tourney - Business Mirror

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the ten weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

Action is due to begin today with finals scheduled for Thursday (June 29).

Vanuatu number one Boe Warawara will be aiming to defend his continental bantamweight title.

He went on to compete at the 2015 AIBA World Championships in Doha, losing in the round-of-16, and last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Warawara lost his first round bout to Russia's Vladimir Nikitin in Brazil.

Australian super heavyweight Joseph Goodall won silver at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and will have his sights set on gold.

Australia's AIBA Youth World Championship bronze medallist Sam Goodman is due to compete at bantamweight, while his compatriot, former AIBA junior world champion Clay Waterman, will enter the light heavyweight event.

New Zealander David Nyika impressed at heavyweight with the British Lionhearts during the recent World Series of Boxing season and will be full of confidence heading to the Gold Coast.

Papua New Guinea's defending flyweight champion Charles Keama and Rio 2016 Olympian Thadius Katua will also be hopeful of success.

Katua won the gold medal at the 2015 Pacific Games on home soil in Port Moresby but was knocked out of the lightweight event at Rio 2016 in the round-of-32.

Fiji's hopes rest on the shoulders of their Rio 2016 Olympian Winston Hill.The 23-year-old lost in the round-of-32 in Brazil and will compete in the welterweight competition this week..

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Oceania Boxing Championships set to begin in Gold Coast - Loop PNG