Gichard strikes Samoa 2015 gold at expense of compatriot Fa'amausili on opening night of swimming finals

New Zealand's Bobbi Gichard took gold in the women's 100m backstroke on the opening day of swimming finals at Samoa 2015 ©Getty Images

International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Junior Championships bronze medallist Bobbi Gichard of New Zealand struck 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games gold in the women’s 100 metres backstroke by edging compatriot Gabrielle Fa'amausili in a thrilling race on the opening evening of swimming finals here today.

Gichard was third in the event in Singapore, where Australia’s Minna Atherton set a world junior record, but was able to produce a commanding display to pip her team-mate to the title thanks to a time of 1min 0.51sec, with Nathania Van Niekerk of South Africa sealing bronze.

World Junior Championships 200m individual medley gold medallist Australian Clyde Lewis was at it again in the boy's 200m freestyle, clocking 1:48.88 to secure a dominant victory.

Welson Sim Wee Sheng of Malaysia touched the wall in second place to claim silver and England’s Kyle Chisholm rounded off the podium by taking bronze.

Lewis was, however, unable to add to his tally on the night as he was second to Connor Ferguson in the boy’s 100m backstroke as the Northern Irish swimmer led for the majority of the race before finishing in 55.87.

Bayley Main continued New Zealand’s fruitful day by earning bronze.

Gemma Cooney, who was part of the Australian 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams who both broke the world junior record in Singapore in August, was also in good form as she claimed gold in the girl’s 200m in 2:13.51.

Australian world junior 200m individual medley champion Clyde Lewis began his Samoa 2015 campaign with gold and silver today ©Getty Images

Scotland’s Meg Finnon came home to take silver while Tazmin Pugh of England did enough for bronze.

It proved to be a successful evening for South Africa as they reigned supreme in both the boy’s and girl’s 50m butterfly races.

Zane Waddell began the evening in style for his nation as he clocked 24.52 to seal gold in the boy’s race, with Brayden McCarthy of Australia and England’s Lewis Clough clinching second and third respectively.

Erin Gallagher, who competed for South Africa at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, then won the girl’s event in 27.20 as she finished ahead of Australian duo Lucia Lassman and Cooney.

England were able to secure gold in the girl’s 200m freestyle as Georgina Boyle powered to victory in 2:00.72, just shy of a second in front of Kathryn Gleenslade of Wales.

Australian Shayna Jack, bronze medallist at the recent World Junior Championships, had to settle for third.

Tom Derbyshire of England won the boy's 1500m in 15:31.18 ahead of Welson Wee Sheng Shim and Tristan Ludlow of Australia.

India's Jamjang Deru produced a commanding display to win gold in the boy's 56kg category ©Getty Images

Elsewhere, Wales, Fiji and India claimed a gold medal each on the first day of weightlifting action at Samoa 2015.

Catrin Jones produced an excellent display to get Wales of to a great start as she topped the podium in the girl’s 48 kilograms category with a total of 126kg, just 1kg more than silver medallist Srimali Divisekara Mudiyanselage of Sri Lanka, while Hailee Jarrett was third.

Ulina Sagone then secured gold for Fiji in the girl’s 56kg division as a snatch of 62kg helped her to a total of 136kg to ensure she was crowned Commonwealth Youth Games champion at the expense of Biatrice Gabell of Scotland and Mauritius’ Lent Ketty.

In the final weight division to take place today, the boy’s 56kg event, Jamjang Deru cruised to a confident success as he lifted a total of 237kg, 20kg in front of nearest challenger Talha Talib of Pakistan.

Ronny Jesos added another medal to the Malaysian tally as he won bronze.