Tahitians Won

Eight Gold Medals

In Team Events

French Polynesia, which d not fare too well in the fii week of the Games, finished i programme in fine style to w nine gold medals in the la

three days.

ALL but one of these medals w for team sports. The odd oi was for cycling.

French Polynesia took the go medals for men’s and women’s bask€ ball, soccer, men’s, women’s ai mixed table tennis, and men’s ai women’s volleyball.

The Tahitians were never beat« in men’s basketball, but they lost oni to Papua-New Guinea in the womer series, and they had a lucky win ov Fiji in their semi-final.

In the match against Fiji, the sco stood at 39-all at the end of tl normal playing period; and at tl end of extra time, the scores we still level at 42-all. However, tl Polynesians broke away in the secoi period of extra time to win 53-47.

In the final for the gold meds the Polynesians beat P-NG 35-21.

A basketballer now

One of the stars of the mat* was Helene Sarciaux, who scored ! points for French Polynesia. Helei won medals for hurdling and hij jumping at the Suva Games, but d not compete in those events this tim The French Polynesians’ go medal in soccer was something a sensation, for few people had giv« them a chance of beating the high! polished New Caledonian team (s opposite).

In table tennis, French Polynes was well served by its Chine players, whose Oriental qualities patience, persistence and unfla pability give them a flying start this sport.

In men’s volleyball, the Tahitia. came out in the final and beat tl crack New Caledonian team, whi< had defeated them by three sets two in the preliminary series.

The final was played before packed house of intensely partisai but good-natured Tahitians and Ne Caledonians, who shouted, whistle blew cow horns, rang bells, and be: soft drink cans every time either si<

cored a point or the referee gave i doubtful decision. It was the nearest hing to bedlam seen at the Games.

The French Polynesians won the inal by 3 sets to 1.

The final of the women’s volley >all was also an all-French affair, yith French Polynesia beating New Caledonia by three sets to nil. As yith the men, the French Polynesian ramen had been beaten by the New Caledonians in the preliminary series.