PNG tennis star bags four golds from four

Abigail Tere-Apisah (PNG) won gold in all four of the events in which she competed at Port Moresby 2015. Photo by Vere Freeman.

PORT MORESBY, July 17 – Papua New Guinean tennis star Abigail Tere-Apisah (PNG) capped off the Port Moresby 2015 tennis tournament with her fourth gold of the Games after beating New Caledonia’s Yaelle Honakoko (NCL) in the women’s singles final at Steamships Racquets Club on Friday.

The top seed wrapped up the match in straight sets beating her opponent 6-1, 6-1.

Tere-Apisah is one of few athletes at Port Moresby 2015 to win gold in every event in which she participated – the team event, women’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s singles.

“I’ve never thought about it but that’s so true, I have not dropped a match this whole tournament,” Tere-Apisah admitted to the Games News Service.

“There are a couple of tournaments I’ve won like this but I think this is the major one because I had the chance to play four events, usually I just play two – singles and doubles. But this is one of the major ones and I’m really glad that I am able to get all four (golds).”

Despite a convincing scoreline in Friday’s women’s singles final, Tere-Apisah said she had to fight for the victory.

“I won’t say it was an easy win. She (Honakoko) is a tough player and has a different style of game to mine. And so I had to throw in a little bit of a variety to put her off and I guess that’s how I got the win,” she said.

“I went out there really focused with a positive mindset and played my game. I didn’t let her in or give her a chance to come back or play her style of game. I’m really pleased with how I played.”

In the bronze medal match Ana Pain (NCL) defeated Violet Apisah (PNG) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

In the men’s singles Nickolas N’Godrela (NCL) took gold after beating team mate Julien Delaplane (NCL) 6-3 6-3. Vanuatu’s Cyril Jacobe claimed bronze in a spirited 7-5 6-1 win against Tahiti’s Heve Kelley.

By Francis Gabriel, Games News Service

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