Tonga to honor Olympic shotput champ Vili

The tiny Pacific kingdom of Tonga was due to roll out the red carpet for Olympic shotput champion Valerie Vili on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele and New Zealand High Commissioner Christine Bogle were to host Vili, her husband, sister and members of her extended family at a function in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

Vili, 23, represented New Zealand when she won the shotput gold medal at the Beijing Olympics but was of Tongan parentage. She was in Tonga on a short holiday which will include a visit to her mother's home village of Houma.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand AP