Papua New Guinea weightlifters Thelma and Dika Toua have won the first gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.
Thelma Toua competing at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. December 2017. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
Thelma Toua claimed a clean sweep of the snatch, clean and jerk and overall titles in the women's 48kg division.
"I'm really happy about the gold medals I won today. I'd like to thanks our sponsors, PNG Olympic Committee and the crowd here for their great support - I got confidence from them," said Thelma Toua.
Elder sister Dika Toua also won three gold medals in the women's 53kg division, lifting a new Pacific Games record 110kg in the snatch and 190kg in total.
"We knew we were going to take back three medals each but the performance today was on top of it so yeah we're really happy. Especially myself I'm really happy with the way I performed today - not really well in the snatch, because my opening attempt I missed, but then I came back again with a strong lift so yeah the total," Dika Toua said.
Papua New Guinea weightlifters Thelma and Dika Toua win the first gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. December 2017 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
Fiji, Solomon Islands and Nauru also won their first medals of the Mini Games.
Fiji's Seruwaia Malani claimed three silvers in the 48kg category, while Mudunavoce Arieta won two bronze in the 53kg division.
Mary Lifu from Solomon Islands won three silvers in the 53kg division, while Nauru's Liebon Akua won bronze in 53kg snatch.