Team Fiji will be aiming to collect close to six gold medals in athletics today in the Pacific Games.

The Mens 400 meters final starts at 6.30 tonight where Saint Bedes sprinter Beniamino Maravu, Niko Verekauta and Ratu Tira Narara will run for Fiji.

Maravu managed to get the best time for Fiji in the heats yesterday clocking 48.61 seconds with favorite Nelson Stone of Papua New Guinea clocked 48.26 seconds.

The women's 400 meters final kicks off at 6.20pm where 15 year old Danielle Alakija is our medal prospect.

Alakija clocked 57.96 seconds in the heats yesterday behind top favorite, Toea Wisil of Papua New Guinea who clocked a time of 56.95 seconds.

Suliana Gusuivalu and Miriama Senokonoko will also run in the 400 meters final.

Also at 5.10pm Varasiko Toge will run in the 1,500 meters final.

In the field events, Lesley Copeland will compete in the Mens Javelin at 5.20pm while at 6.20pm, Eugene Volmer will compete in the Long jump event.

Apart from this, the Men's and Women's 200 meters heats will also take place this afternoon.

Banuve Tabakaucoro and Niko Verekauta will run in the heats at 4.45pm while Paulini Korowaqa and Sisilia Seavula will take part in the Women's heats at 4.40pm.
 
Meanwhile, the Fiji soccer team is up against the Solomon’s at 3pm today in the semi finals.

Earlier today, the Fiji Womens soccer team lost to Papua New Guinea 4 0 in the semi finals.  

Beach Volleyball is also being played today where our Mens and Women's teams are currently playing their pool matches against Papua New Guinea.

Badminton quarter finals will start at 4pm where Shivneil Chand and Nilesh Lajendra will play in the Doubles tournament.

In squash, Justine Ho and Marika Serevi are through to the semi finals in the Doubles tournament after defeating Cook Islands in the quarter finals this morning.

Justine Ho will also play in the Singles final at 7.20pm today.

Looking at the medal tally, New Caledonia is leading with 82 gold, 65 silver and    32 bronze while Tahiti is second with 36 gold, 28 silver and 24 bronze.

Fiji is third with 23 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze.

Story by: Dhanjay Deo