Team Fiji Va’a bagged three medals in Day One of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau.
Raymond Rusivakula won’s Fiji’s first medal, winning bronze in the V1 500m Open Men’s final.
He clocked a time of 2 minutes 25.30s.
2023 Pacific Games gold medallist Elenoa Vateitei had to settle for silver in the V1 500m Open Women’s final.
Vateitei completed the race with a time of 2:38.59s, finishing behind Samoa’s Anne Cairns who clocked 2:36.29s.
Fiji’s V12 500m Mixed team also won bronze yesterday, finishing behind Tahiti and Papua New Guinea.
Team Fiji Va’a coach Stanley Ooms commended his paddlers for their achievements.
“I’m just so happy for all our teams that were on the podium today (yesterday). The V12 was a tough race, and they did well to get the bronze medal as well as our V1 specialists Raymond and Elenoa. They made our team proud, Elenoa getting the silver and Raymond getting the bronze,” he said in an interview with Team Fiji.
Team Fiji Va’a will be in the waters again today in the V6 500m race in the men’s, women’s and mixed categories.
Competition continues in respective sports today with more medals up for grabs for Team Fiji.
The Pacific Mini Games will end on July 9.
