The Continental Development Officer of Oceania Hockey, Gill Gemming, says the performances at the last week's Oceania Pacific Cup tournament in Suva show the gap is closing between Pacific countries and regional heavyweights Australia and New Zealand.
The Fiji women won the competition for the first time, with Australia Country beating the hosts in the men's final to also record their maiden victory.
Gemming told the International Hockey Federation's website that getting Fiji in both finals was a major breakthrough.
She also wants to boost the Island representation and is hopeful of getting a Tongan team into the next event, alongside Samoa, PNG, Vanuatu and Fiji.
