Mauritius finishes third at 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games

The 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games’ flag was taken down and the torch extinguished to symbolically mark the end of the regional competition at Stad Linité, Seychelles on Sunday.

Fireworks, music and dance shows were organised for the colourful closing ceremony.

Seychelles National Olympics Committee Antonio Gopal handed the games’ flag to international president for the games, François Beaulieu, who himself gave it to French ambassador to Seychelles Philippe Delacroix.

To recall, Reunion, a French territory, will host the 9th edition of the games in 2015.

Mauritius claimed the third spot at the games with a total of 38 gold medals.

Reunion island heads the ranking with 58 gold medals, followed by host country Seychelles that bagged 57 gold medals, bringing it to a historical second place.

Five Mauritian athletes won gold medals on Saturday, the first one being Antonio Vieillesse, who won the 400-metre hurdles final in 51’25.

Fabrice Coiffic won his third medal of the games after winning the 200m men’s final in 21’19.

Mary-Jane Vincent won the 200m women’s final in 24’37 despite her poor performance in the 100m final.

Vincent Duval won his second medal in the competition after winning the handisport 200m men’s final.

Mauritian cyclist Yannick Lincoln won the last Mauritian gold by winning the 21km time-trial event between Grand Anse Mahé and Anse à la Mouche in 29’22’16.

The main deception on the Mauritian side came from the national football team, Club M, which lost the final against Seychelles at Stad L’Inité on Saturday.

The team led by Akbar Patel lost the final following penalty shootouts 4-3 after Seychelles goalkeeper Vincent Euphrasie stopped Colin Bell’s penalty.

As a result, Mauritius, which was considered an outsider in the football competition, won the silver medal.

“We should not be ashamed of the result and I have nothing to reproach my players for,” national football coach Patel said.