Samoa PM qualifies for Pacific games archery team at the age of 74

Samoa's prime minister has turned back time to qualify for the archery competition at the Pacific Games at the grand age of 74.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made the national archery team after succeeding at trials on the weekend, the government said in a statement released Tuesday.

The larger-than-life septuagenarian last fired an arrow competitively when Samoa held the Games 12 years ago, earning himself a silver medal.

New Zealand will send a mixed archery team to take part in the Games and it will be a qualifying event for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

Malielegaoi said he wanted to go one better this time and was putting in the work with his teammates on the archery range.

"We need to practice as often as possible to improve our shooting style. We know the techniques and we need to perfect our techniques," he said.

"It's the same techniques that we also used in the last Games that were held here, and we believe strongly in the principle that practice makes perfect."

The New Zealand Olympic Committee is sending 55 athletes to compete in archery, athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting and football (under-23) at the Games, which run from July 7 to 20.

Prominent weightlifters David Liti and Laurel Hubbard are among those selected.

There will be more than 4000 athletes from 24 countries competing in 27 spots at the Games.