A Tongan government delegation will travel to China on January 9, 2025, to formally close the CHINA-TONGA Sports Development Program, a significant bilateral initiative aimed at advancing sports in Tonga through specialized training and exchanges.
The delegation, now led by Deputy CEO and Head of Sports ‘Onetoto Anisi, follows a government restructuring. The group includes national sports teams currently training across various regions in China. The program, launched in 2019, successfully trained its third group of athletes in 2024.
Nine sports are represented in the initiative: swimming, boxing, tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, weightlifting, volleyball, and archery.
Reports from team leader Penisimani Vainikolo and Ministry of Internal Affairs staff member Pitisi Veatupu highlight the program’s success, with athletes and coaches benefiting from high-quality training and management.
“The teams are thriving,” noted Vainikolo, with no significant challenges reported during the program.
The delegation, along with the teams, will return to Tonga on January 18, 2025.
This collaboration with China lays a robust foundation for Tonga’s preparations for the 2031 Pacific Games and improve Tonga’s potential for success on the international sports stage.