Hosts Papua New Guinea and Fiji have made a strong start to the Pacific Games, picking up a raft of weightlifting gold medals yesterday.
Papua New Guinea's Dika Toua wins weightlifting gold at the Pacific Games. Photo: Justin Tkatchenko
The first medal of the Games was won by New Caledonia, with Charlotte Robin taking out the women's triathlon.
Audric Lucini won gold for the French Territory in the men's race, going one better than his runners-up finish four years ago.
Tahiti was second in both events and New Caledonia third, with the Francophones also claiming gold and silver in the mixed team events, ahead of Guam.
It was Thelma Toua who won triple gold for Papua New Guinea in the women's 48kg division, finishing top in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall standings.
Her sister Dika Toua won Gold for the 53kg clean and jerk.
Australia's Mary Barter was second in all three categories, earning her country's first ever Pacific Games medals, while Fiji was third.
Fiji added to their haul in the men's 56kg division, with Manueli Tulo winning three golds and Poama Qaqa one silver and two bronze medals.
Nauru's Elson Edward Brechtefeld picked up the remaining medals to open his country's account in the Games.
Today marks the first full day of competition at the Games.
Twelve sports will be on show throughout Port Moresby, with swimming, cricket, tennis, squash, shooting, sailing and Va'a making their first appearance of the Games.
Medals will be up for grabs in weightlifting, swimming, table tennis and Va'a, with the Taurama Aquatic Centre being used in major competition for the first time.
