On Day 6 of competition at the Pacific Games, New Zealand celebrated a silver medal, with James Goulding clinching second place in the Men’s Seated Para Table Tennis event.
Goulding showcased his class earlier in the day when he faced Mylus Mamu from the Solomon Islands in the Semi-Final, winning 3-0.
Goulding's determination was evident as he advanced to the gold medal match, where he faced a formidable opponent from Tahiti.
Despite a hard-fought battle, Goulding ultimately conceded the match with a final score of 0-3 to the skilled Tahitian player.
Reflecting on the match, Goulding expressed a mix of frustration and satisfaction.
“I’m a little bit frustrated that I wasn’t able to do better, but I am feeling happy about the game itself. I was able to play better shots than I had previously and managed to return more of his serves, so overall, I’m feeling pretty good."
Goulding, ranked as New Zealand's number one in his class, expressed his excitement at bringing home a silver medal.
"It feels great; I think it’s a real honor to add to the medal tally," he said.
New Zealand, invited to send para-athletes to the Pacific Games for the first time this year, has seen outstanding performances from its contingent.
"It’s been awesome; I have loved it. This is the best team environment I have been in for years. It’s such a supportive group, no matter which discipline you come from," Goulding added.
The medal tally for New Zealand currently sits at 23 medals.
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