11 July 2019, Pacific Games Apia Samoa. The Samoa Women’s Squash team have defied the odds to secure a silver medal in the XVI Pacific Games.
This is the first time Samoa has been able to field a Women’s Team since 2007.
“We didn’t have squash courts in the lead up to 2015, and the last time we were able to field a full women’s team was in 2007;
“Yes I was in that team,” says squash veteran Samantha Marfleet-Manu with a smile.
Now 40 years of age, Samantha has been representing Samoa in Squash for over 10 years.
Other Samoan players in today’s line up were 32 year old Lupe Sefo-Kapisi and 45 year old Opera Monzari.
The Samoa team lost the gold medal match to a much younger New Caledonian side this afternoon but managed to upset squash powerhouse Papua New Guinea on the opening day of the tournament.
The Samoa Women’s team also beat strong teams from Tahiti and Fiji on their way to the finals.
When Samoa last hosted the Pacific Games in 2007, Samoa Squash had also won a silver medal for the Women’s team division.
Most squash followers will also never forget the excitement in Samoa Squash winning Gold for the Women’s Doubles of Alyson Sefo and Iokapeta Sialaoa.
Two of the Samoa Women’s Squash team are daughters of former Samoa Squash representatives.
Lupe Sefo-Kapisi is the daughter of Doubles gold medalist Alyson Sefo and Samantha Marfleet-Manu is the daughter of Tami Marfleet who had also represented Samoa.
More medals are expected from Squash with the Individuals event starting tomorrow and the Doubles event next week.
