High Hopes Of

New Caledonia Has High Hopes Of Several Medals

New Caledonia’s contingent of 68 athletes has high hopes of carrying off medals in a number of fields in the South Pacific Games. It will probably do par ticularly well in soccer, tennis and table tennis, and in several swimming and athletics events.

THE contingent will consist of 18 soccer players, 20 athletes (in cluding two from Wallis Island), 10 basketballers, eight tennis players, eight swimmers and four table tennis exponents. Ten officials will accom pany the contingent.

In soccer. New Caledonia will probably field the strongest team in the Games. For several months, the players have had the benefit of a coach especially sent from France to prepare them for their Fiji contests; and just before leaving for Suva, they will have gained valuable ex perience from three matches against Ajaccio (Corsica), which recently won the amateur championship of France. The Ajaccio team was due to arrive in Noumea on August 12.

New Caledonia’s swimmers are something of an unknown quantity, as, until the New Caledonian Swimming League was formed in Noumea a few months ago, organised swimming in the territory had been sadly neglected for several years.

Valuable Experience

New Caledonia’s basketball team expects to defend its colours honour ably following valuable experience gained against a touring New Zealand team a couple of months ago.

New Caledonia’s chances in table tennis depend largely on whether any Vietnamese players are included in the team. The Vietnamese are the best table tennis players in the terri tory, but up to mid-July it was not known whether they would consent to play under New Caledonia’s emblem and colours.

PIM has received little information on the capabilities of New Caledonia’s athletes, but it seems fairly certain that its team of 20 will win a medal or two.

In tennis, the territory will prob ably put up a strong performance as that sport is well to the fore in New Caledonia.