Vanuatu’s Yoshua Shing (table tennis) and Sharon Firisua of the Solomon Islands (athletics) have the won the Best Male and Female awards at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The panel of judges chose Shing who won four gold medals in the four events he competed in and Firisua won three gold medals in the 10 kilometres, 5km and the half-marathon ahead of other strong contenders.

The awards for Young Male and Female went to Clement Mainguy of Vanuatu (tennis) and Eileen Cikamatana of Fiji (weightlifting).

Mainguy, 14, helped his team win gold while Cikamatana won three gold medals in her weight category and also set new Commonwealth and Oceania records in weightlifting.

Sports Administrator of the Games went to New Caledonia’s Brigitte Delaveuve for being the first women chef de mission from her country and New Caledonia topping the medal hauls at VAN2017.

Coach of the Games was won by New Caledonia’s Gregory Panne (karate) whose team won 14 of the 16 gold medals on offer.

Samoa’s rugby sevens coach, Stephen Betham also had strong mention in this category for beating favourites Fiji in the final. Norfolk’s Geoff Gardiner nominated by Palau won the Technical Official’s award for his outstanding work in athletics. The New Caledonia female golf’s team that scooped the gold medal won the Team of the Games Award. The team was made of all juniors.

The panel of judges are; Ryan Pini (PGC Athletes Rep) chairman, Matai Akauola, Paul Poaniewa, Bob Snow and Brendon Telfer.

Edited by Osea Bola

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