Papua New Guinea leads the medal count at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu, after dominating the first day of weightlifting competition.
PNG Gold medallist Thelma Toua Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
Team PNG has nine gold medals, six clear of the chasing pack, which includes Fiji, Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands.
Sisters Thelma and Dika Toua kicked off the gold rush with three a-piece in the women's 48kg and 53kg divisions.
Morea Baru added three more to the total in the men's 62kg category, while Manueli Tulo won Fiji's first three golds in the men's 56kg division.
Jenlyn Wini from Solomon Islands swept the field in the women's 58kg competition but it was left to Mattie Sasser from the Marshall Islands to end the day in style - setting five Oceania and Pacific Games records on her way to three gold medals in the women's 63kg division.
So PNG leads the standings with Fiji edging Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands for second place, thanks to some podium finishes.
Nauru have won the most medals overall with a haul of three silver and eight bronze.
Meanwhile New Zealand, Samoa and Guam also picked up some silverware.
The Marshalls' Mattie Sasser won three golds and broke five regional records Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie
