Wrestling and Athletics add three medals to Solomons tally as Leong battles for Gold in Tennis Singles final with Samoa

Solomon Islands Gold medal drought at the Samoa XIII South Pacific Games still continues after potential hopes for Gold in Soccer was dubbed yesterday by a 2-3 defeat to New Caledonia in the semifinals.

However the country's medal tally has been slightly uplifted yesterday with three medals after Florence Toada won a Bronze in the Women's 10,000m in Athletics plus a Silver to Katea Ueresi in the 65kg and a Bronze to Masunu Pugeva in the 74kg of the Wrestling Freestyle category.

With Solomon Islands hopes of at least one Gold medal is somehow fading away, there is still some hope beyond the drama as our Tennis ace, Mr Michael Leong (pictured), advances to the finals for Gold Medal against Samoa's Juan Langton in the Men's Singles today.

As the SPG media have described him, "Michael Leong is 21 years old and stands about 5'2" with a scruffy shag haircut that falls loosely around the back of his neck. You probably wouldn't think much of him at first glance, but Mikey, more commonly known to those who call him friend, is actually coming to these SPG games as the #1 seed in the men's singles events. This is his first appearance in the SPG, let alone his first visit to Samoa".

In the Tennis Singles semifinals, Leong overcame New Caledonia's Julien Couly who stands a lofty 6'5" and weighs about 220 pounds. In a match that was riddled with controversy between players, the chair umpire, and the line umpires as well as the comedic exchanges between players and spectators, Leong defeated Couly of New Caledonia 6-7(4), 6-2, 2-0 - Retired. And that makes for a Leong match.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands men's doubles team comprising Michael Leong and Junior Kari has bowed out in the quarter finals after going down to Tahiti 7-6, 3-6 and 6-7.