(JULY 20)  Papua New Guinea’s Philo Magaiva became the first woman to take a boxing Gold medal at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby – indeed two of the three Golds available went to host nation boxers.

For the first time in the history of the Pacific Games, three women’s boxing gold medallists were crowned at the iconic event on the fourth competition day as the women’s Flyweight (51 kg), Lightweight (60 kg) and Middleweight (75 kg) finals delighted the watching crowd in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

In addition to the women’s finals, the men’s semi-finals also took place on a very busy day.

Gold medal winners from the women’s competition:

51 kg: Philo Magaiva, Papua New Guinea
60 kg: Jennifer Chieng, Federated States of Micronesia
75 kg: Debbie Kaore, Papua New Guinea

Team of the day:

Papua New Guinea won seven bouts on the fourth competition day, including two historic gold medals for their women athletes.

Flyweight (51 kg) Philo Magaiva achieved the first women’s boxing gold medal in the history of the competition via walkover after Tahiti’s Taraina Rataro Tuihaa was unable to compete.

Debbie Kaore then defeated Tahiti’s Edith Tavanae in the women’s Middleweight (75 kg) final to earn the second gold medal for the host nation.

Federated States of Micronesia’s Jennifer Chieng arrived to the Pacific Games as a relatively unknown athlete, but she will leave Port Moresby as the women’s Lightweight (60 kg) champion after a fantastic tournament.

Chieng’s final opponent was the powerful Raphaela Baki, but Micronesia’s new hero worked hard from the opening seconds where her close range hooks and uppercuts frequently reached the target.

The previously unheralded sensation used similar tactics in the remaining rounds to seal a memorable and emotional victory for herself and her proud nation.

All ten men’s finals took place Saturday with the results available from AIBA’s official website and on link below.

The Port Moresby/Pacific Games organisers have right declared the Games an outstanding success:

"With fireworks, music, grass skirts and a sample of the Pacific’s rich and diverse culture, Port Moresby said a fond goodbye the 2015 Pacific Games in Saturday night’s closing ceremony at BSP Stadium.

Vidhya Lakhan (FIJ), president of the Pacific Games Council (PGC), proclaimed the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games an “outstanding Games that surpassed all expectations” as he declared the Games closed and started a night that brought the whole of Papua New Guinea to the party.

The President added that 'the Games will leave something to remember for the host city, while giving Tonga 2019 something to aim for.

“We want the Games to leave legacies, physical and human, that will last long after the 2015 Games have finished,” said Lakhan at the closing ceremony.

“Thank you for being such a wonderful host. Thank you for making our stay in Port Moresby safe and memorable,” said Lakhan.

“Realising your dreams and your goals is not impossible.”

In closing, WBAN would like to congratulate not only the winners but ALL the history making, women who took part on this historic occasion in Port Moresby. May you prosper in future tournaments

not only in your native islands but in international AIBA tournaments and who knows, perhaps one day in not too distant future in the Olympic Games. Next time the Games take place hopefully the AIBA and Games organisers will ensure there are an equal number of weights for women as for men.

Meantime do be sure to sign - and get your family and friends to do so also - the WBAN petition for more weights for women in AIBA tournaments.