Samoa has surged into second place on the Pacific Games medal table after winning nine gold medals on Friday.

The host nation doubled their overall haul to 18 in five days, but it's still New Caledonia who continue to lead the way in Apia.
Weightlifters Don Opeloge and Leotina Petelo won three gold medals apiece on home soil, while also making a clean sweep of the Oceania and Commonwealth titles.

Four years ago, a quartet of PNG sisters and nieces made tennis headlines at the Port Moresby 2015 XV Pacific Games as they contested the women’s doubles final against each other.

Since then, much has changed for sisters Abigail and Marcia Tere-Apisah, whose international tennis careers have skyrocketed as they fly the PNG flag in a sport in which Pacific islanders have traditionally enjoyed limited success.

A Fijian sporting couple will be returning home with three medals between them after a successful Samoan 2019 XVI Pacific Games.

Lisa Leota and her husband Samoa-born Fred Tamavua Leota won two of the three gold medals up for grabs in the morning session on day 5 of the event at Faleata Sports Complex.

Lisa Leota had to settle for a silver in the women’s compound 50 meters, as New Caledonia's Cecile Picot, got gold.

Papua New Guinea’s men’s volleyball team have extra motivation at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games, following the unexpected passing of their captain Ravuiwa Mahuru Rau just days before the event.

In Thursday’s opening clash at the National University of Samoa Gym, they began their tournament on a winning note, defeating Kiribati in four sets (25-10, 23-25, 25-10, 25-15). Despite a second set blip, PNG looked strong, roared on by full stands of lively PNG fans and a wonderous atmosphere.

The Samoan prime minister has withdrawn from the archery at Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games on the eve of competition to allow a teenage archer to replace him.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, 74, voluntarily withdrew from Friday's bronze medal event in archery mixed doubles compound category to allow his 17-year-old team mate to compete.

Fiji won gold in men’s rugby league 9s at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games, beating defending champions and favourites Papua New Guinea 14-0 at Apia Park Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Although PNG sent a less experienced side to these Games than their champion team from the Port Moresby 2015 XV Pacific Games, they were still hopeful of defending their title after strong performances throughout the two-day event.

Day one of the men’s rugby league 9s competition at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games saw a number of tight contests in torrential rain and mud at Apia Park Stadium, with Papua New Guinea and Samoa ending the day as the top ranked teams.

Fiji and Tonga are the other two nations vying for silverware, while Cook Islands, Tokelau and Solomon Islands dropped have out of medal contention.

The three strongest nations in squash from the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games look to be on track to dominate again here in Samoa.

Four years ago Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Fiji shared all 21 available medals between them. 

After carrying her country’s flag at the Pacific Games Ceremony the night before, New Caledonian swimmer Charlotte Robin won the first gold medal of the Games for coming first in the Open Water 5km race at Mulifanua on Monday morning.

​New Caledonia bags first Gold . Four years ago at Papua New Guinea 2015 XV Pacific Games, New Caledonia swimmer Charlotte Robin won gold in the women's open water swimming.