Tonga's Tala wins netball gold at the Pacific Games
5 December, 2023. Oceania champions Tonga, who competed at the Netball World Cup earlier in July, finally claimed the gold medal in the sport when they defeated the Fijian Pearls 56-52 in a tough battle in the Solomon Islands on the weekend.
In doing so the Tongan Tala became the only third team to win gold in the netball competition at the Pacific Games - with Fiji and the Cook Islands sharing the gold previously.
The Pacific Games Media reported that the two teams started with a bang and showed why they were the final two battling it out for gold.
Tonga captain Hulita Veve said to come out on top four years on from the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games is indeed satisfying.
"We never expected to win this gold. We (both teams) came out fighting - we both wanted to win and to have it in our favour in the end is indeed sweet and refreshing. It was an inspiring end to a beautiful tournament."
Samoa took home the bronze medal after seeing off a determined Papua New Guinea side 52-49.
- RNZI
