With 10 medals, including 7 gold, Polynesia is in second position in the medal table, before the end of the sixth day of competition. After the awards in tennis and triathlon, the va’a events allowed the aito to really assert themselves in the competition. Badminton could also bring its share of charms.
Twenty countries, a thousand athletes, ten days of competition, and one goal: to bring home the gold. The 11e Mini-Games, Olympics in reduced format bringing together the countries of the region between each edition of the Pacific Games, were officially launched Thursday in Saipan. In the capital of the Northern Marianas, a territory of 55,000 inhabitants attached to the United States, Polynesia is one of the important delegations: 80 athletes, participants in the nine sports on the program. And it was in tennis and as a team that Tahiti won its first medal, in bronze, on Saturday. The first golden award soon followed: Benjamin Zorgnotti won the triathlon event. Monday (Sunday in Tahiti) our aito shone in va’a. And above all the vahine: gold medal for the female V12, then rebelotte in V1 500 meters for Hinatea Bernadino. On the tane side, Hiromana Flores won silver in the 1500 meters, outdistanced by the Caledonian Albert Mainguet. Same result and new disappointment in V12, where the cagous won.
But the harvest continued on Monday (Tuesday in the Mariana Islands). And it’s once again the va’a that leads the Polynesians to the podium: V6 Vahine and Tane each won gold in the 1500 meters and 500 meters. Enough to boost Tahiti, now credited with 7 gold medals, on the second step of the temporary medal table, just behind Papua New Guinea. And far ahead of New Caledonia, which is in eighth place despite its 13 medals (2 gold).
This Monday also took place the weightlifting events, which have so far not garnered a victory for the Tahitians. Eriatara Ratia, already present at the mini-Games in 2015, and who supervises the fenua team in this discipline, nevertheless ensures that the motivation is there. He explains that the aito have been able to put in place an effective training and preparation program since the start of the competition. No question of visiting Saipan before giving it your all, especially since the level of competition is high:
The badminton matches were also highly anticipated and gave good results before tomorrow’s finals. Hortensia Manzanal speaks of a “top atmosphere” in the delegation despite the pressure and heat of the Mariana Islands.
For the Tahitian delegation, this involves, among other things, preparing for the 2023 Pacific Games – shifted from July to the end of the year – which will take place in the Solomons. In the longer term, it is of course the Tahiti 2027 Games that are in the sights. Some athletes have their own objectives: the mini-Games are also, in certain disciplines, a gateway to other Oceanian or international competitions.
