Pacific

Sports news in brief for July 27

11:55 am on 27 July 2023

Violet Apisah Photo: Violet Apisah/Instagram

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup

Pacific Oceania have extended their unbeaten run to three matches in the Billie Jean King Cup after beating Singapore 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur.

First up, Papua New Guinea's Violet Apisah beat Audrey Tong 6-1, 6-1.

Then Carol Lee of the Northern Marianas secured the tie when she beat Sue Yan Tan 6-2, 6-1.

Both players have now won all three of their singles matches after sucess against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.

In the doubles dead rubber, Lee and Patricia Apisah lost in straight sets.

On Thursday the team plays Guam which has lost all its three ties so far.

Cricket - PNG

Papua New Guinea remains unbeaten after four games at the East-Asia Pacific qualifier for next year's men's T-20 cricket world cup.

The winner of the four-team tournament at Amini Park in Port Moresby claims an automatic spot for the tournament next year as part of the new qualification pathway.

PNG has beaten Vanuatu twice, Japan once and the Philippines once.

Vanuatu has not yet scored a victory.

The tournament wraps up on Saturday.

Football - Cook Islands

World football president Gianni Infantino is visiting the Cook Islands on Friday.

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) said they hope to establish connections with the FIFA president and also showcase to him how far football has developed within the Cook Islands.

Infantino and his delegation will meet with government officials before heading to the CIFA headquarters to engage with members of the Cook Islands football community.

The Swiss national is intending to visit all 11 Oceania Football Confederation member nations during the Women's World Cup being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Rugby league - Solomon Islands

Overseas players who are eligible to represent the Solomon Islands in rugby league at the 2023 Pacific Games are expected to be part of the Nines competition next month.

The League Nines competition will be held on August 18 in Honiara.

The League is expecting eight men's and six women's team in the competition.

Final selections for the national teams to compete at the Games will be done after the competition.

Boxing - Fiji

The Boxing Commission of Fiji has a new chairman in Adi Narayan.

This was announced in Suva by Fiji's Minister of Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru on Tuesday.

Narayan replaces Dr Subbash Appana, who has been chairman since 2019.

The Boxing Commission oversees professional boxing in Fiji.

Swimming - Fiji

Eleven-year-old Fijian swimmer Kelera Mudunasoko, will be aiming to set a new personal best time when she competes in the 200-metre breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championship in Fukuoka, Japan on Thursday.

She achieved a personal best time in the 100-metre breaststroke race in 1 minute, 15.77 seconds on Wednesday.

Mudunasoko is part of a handful of Pacific swimmers at the world event.