Three victories from the racket of Melveen Richmond sensationally propelled Tahiti to victory against New Caledonia in the Women’s Team final of the 2011 Pacific Games on the evening of Wednesday 31 August. An electric atmosphere was created by thunderous applause and chanting after each and every point from the capacity crowd in the Jean Noyant Hall.

In the group phase New Caledonia had forged an excellent come from behind five matches to four victory and they were looking to repeat the result in the final, however it was not to be for the host nation.

14 year old Tina Mii from the small island of Rurutu held her nerve and showed maturity beyond her years as she won the deciding match against Vanuatu to book Tahiti’s place in the Women’s Team final. The petite right hander showed good promise as part of Team Oceania at the 2010 Global Cadet Challenge in Hyderabad, India and again impressed as part of the 2011 Oceania Talent Team trip to Chengdu, China. This morning, when it was needed most she came through with an excellent victory over Stephanie Qwea in four games. She showed patience and a good tactical nous against the defensive style of Qwea in a performance that underlined her potential for the future.

Upon completion of day 2 of the table tennis events at the 2011 Pacific Games, the host nation New Caledonia is assured of a place in the Women’s Team event final.

After defeating Tahiti yesterday evening in a nail biting encounter, they continued on their winning ways as they overcame Vanuatu by six matches to three in this evenings match. Vanuatu made the better start to the duel as seventeen year old defender Stephanie Qwea recorded a career best victory over leading Pacific female player Ornella Bouteille in four games. Following this Anolyn Lulu extended the Vanuatu advantage when she defeated Fabianna Faehau in straight games. From here though New Caledonia rallied to claim the next four matches. Alexandra Heraclide proved too strong for both Pareina Matariki and Stephanie Qwea, Ornella Bouteille won by the narrowest of margins against Anolyn Lulu, and Fabianna Faehau defeated Pareina Matariki. A New Caledonian victory was assured when Ornella Bouteille won in straight games over Pareina Matariki, and in doing so New Caledonia are assured of their place in the final tomorrow evening.

Tuesday 30 August marked day two of the table tennis events at the 2011 Pacific Games. The group phase of the Men’s Team event came to conclusion and the top four seeds, namely New Caledonia, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and Fiji have booked their places in the semi finals.

In group 1, Tahiti emerged as group winners after they crushed Fiji by seven matches to two. The backbone of the Tahitian victory was seventeen year old Ocean Belrose who won all three of his matches. First he defeated Wang Qi for the first time in his career in five games, and later he accounted for both Richel Sen and Sanesh Chand in straight games. The older of the Belrose brothers, Alize, also claimed victories as did Tinihua Klouman in a solid team performance for the Tahitians. For Fiji Wang Qi claimed a victory over Alize Belrose and Richel Sen overcame Tinihau Klouman.

The 14^th Pacific Games kicked off on Saturday 27 August when the opening ceremony was held in Noumea, which is the capital city of New Caledonia. No less than 3000 athletes from 28 sports and 22 Oceania countries/territories have converged on the Pacific paradise to compete in what are essentially the Olympic Games for the people of the Pacific islands.

Table tennis is a compulsory sport in the Pacific Games, and no doubt some splendid competition will be on offer as champions are crowned and the history books have another page written in them. The table tennis events will begin on Monday 29 August and will conclude on Thursday 8 September

The Women’s Team matches in the evening session of Monday 29 August brought the Pacific Games to light. Two nail biting contests were fought out but in the end the host nation New Caledonia along with Vanuatu emerged successful. 

Monday 29 August marked the beginning of the Team’s Events at the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, which is the capital city of the French territory New Caledonia.

In the Men’s Team event the traditional Pacific powerhouses of New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji, and Vanuatu all came through day one of competition unscathed. For Vanuatu however, they had the narrowest of escapes.