The Solomon Islands 2023 Australian Team has been officially welcomed to the Pacific Games in the Opening Ceremony and Matt Ebden knocked out the no.2 seeds at the ATP Finals to highlight the weekend in Olympic sports.
Pacific Games – Opening Ceremony launches 2023 Pacific Games
The Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games officially commenced on Sunday night with a vibrant Opening Ceremony in Honiara.
The event, held under the theme ‘Iumi Na Iumi’ meaning ‘We and Us,’ celebrated the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands. Dual Olympian archer Ryan Tyack led the Australian Team as Flag Bearer in the ceremony.
Athletes from 24 participating countries kicked off the festivities with a lively parade, many adorning their official colours, traditional attire and showcasing brief traditional dances.
More than 3,000 volunteers displayed the richness of Solomon Islands culture in three major performances: Nature in Harmony, Celebrating Athletes’ Achievements and Fountain of Hope.
71 Australian athletes are competing across eight sports - Archery, Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Judo, Sailing, Taekwondo and Weightlifting - through to Sunday 2 December.
The Pacific Games is a direct Olympic qualifier for Archery (mixed teams event) and Boxing. Strong world ranking points which contribute towards Paris 2024 qualification are available in Weightlifting, Athletics and Taekwondo.
Team Australia begins day one action on Monday 20 November across two sports, Sailing and Judo, from 10am AEDT. Watch live and on demand.
Tennis – Ebden in top-four ATP Finals finish
Matt Ebden became the first Australian since 2017 to reach the semi-finals at the ATP Finals, with the 35-year-old performing strongly in Turin, Italy.
His campaign with Rohan Bopanna (IND) as no.3 seeds featured knocking out no.2 seeds Neal Skupski (GBR) and Wesley Koolhof (NED) 6-4 7-6 in the quarter-finals, before bowing out to Marcel Granollers (ESP) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 5-7 4-6 on Saturday.
Golf - Women's Tour Championship action wraps season
Dual Olympian Minjee Lee was the top ranked Australian at the LPGA Tour's season-ending championship in Florida over the weekend, finishing the competition in a tie for eighth place.
Hannah Green followed closely behind tied for 23rd, while Grace Kim, Sarah Kemp and Stephanie Kyriacou placed T-47, T-50 and T-57 respectively.
The results leave Minjee Lee ranked as the world's 5th best LPGA golfer in 2023.
Rowing – Tara Rigney wins Rowing Australia leadership award
Rowing Australia honoured its highest achievers, greatest contributors and most dedicated community members at a gala event in Canberra on Friday night with Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO awarded the inaugural Service to Rowing Award.
World Championships bronze medallist Tara Rigney (single sculls) and world champion Jed Altschwager (PR3 Mixed Double) together won the 2023 Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Awards.
Women's pair Jessica Morrison OAM and Annabelle McIntyre OAM was unveiled as the female crew of the year and women’s head coach John Keogh took out coach of the year. The men's coxed eight were anointed male crew of the year.
