MELEKEOK, Palau — Tahiti reinforced its dominance in regional archery on Wednesday, securing multiple gold medals in the compound and recurve events at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games held at the Melekeok archery range.
In the men’s 50-meter compound final, Tahiti’s Arthur Demachy delivered a composed and clinical performance to capture the gold medal. Demonstrating precision under pressure, Demachy outscored his rivals from Tonga and Fiji, who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
“It’s been amazing,” Demachy said following the final. “But at the end of the day, it’s just a game. We all pushed each other to be better.”
Tahiti continued its strong showing in the women’s 50-meter compound division, where Aurore Cottet edged out the competition to claim gold. Tonga earned both silver and bronze in the event, underlining the country’s growing strength in the compound discipline.
“I feel so great to represent Tahiti and win gold,” said Cottet. “For younger athletes, don’t be afraid to ask questions and keep learning.”
In the women’s 70-meter recurve final, Tahiti again topped the podium with a composed and accurate performance. Tonga secured the silver, while host nation Palau took home the bronze, drawing a wave of applause from the home crowd.
“I feel great—it was the pressure,” said one member of the Palauan team, reflecting on the emotional and competitive atmosphere of the finals.
As medals were awarded, the event concluded with expressions of mutual respect and regional camaraderie. With its strong finishes across multiple events, Tahiti solidified its position as the region’s leading archery nation, while Tonga and Palau demonstrated resilience and promise heading into future competitions.
The archery finals offered not only medals but also compelling moments of sportsmanship, precision, and Pacific pride.