“IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE” Issue 08 Monthly Newsletter August, 2014 Team PNG returned home toms, Kari and Toua joined the rest who remained at- on Friday 8th August, in the celebration with a tended the Team’s Welcome 2014 with the first group traditional dance group Reception at the Gateway Ho- touching down at Jack- and also meeting family, tel on Saturday 9th August. sons International airport relatives, friends and fans In welcoming the Team back Team at midday. at the tarmac before being home, Chef de Mission, They were led out of the taken into the VIP area to Emma Waiwai congratulated aircraft by Gold medal meet sponsors and VIP’s the two gold medalists and winning duo, Dika Toua and also the media. also the rest of the Team for and Steven Kari to a The two were later the hard work and effort they packed tarmac and car whisked away by a wait- put in during the Games. PNG park as people gathered ing convoy of cars and She said Kari and Toua’s ef- to cheer on them – most supporters back to Hanu- forts brought PNG to the were from Kari and Toua’s abada where a welcome 16th place on the medal tally home village of Han- ceremony and more cel- which was never done before. uabada. ebration of their victory “I can say that this was a very While was held. successful Team,” she said. returns the The second group of Team There was also a ticker-tape rest PNG landed later in the af- parade around Port Moresby o f ternoon. city earlier that day with Kari Those from other and Toua showing their med- Led home by provinces transited als to the public with other the while members of Team PNG. Golden athletes, Team The Welcome reception also w e n t farewelled the PNG Team to the Youth Olympics in Nan- Steven and Dika through jing, . cus-

CELEBRATION: Steven Kari and Dika Toua join traditional dance group at the airport upon their arrival.

OUR SPONSORS SPORTSAUGUST 2014 GARAMUTPAPUA NEW GUINEA OLYMPIC COMMITTEE INC. Young Koroka shows promise Makes it to the final in

PAPUA NEW GUINEA could have un- improvement they had discussed prior to earthed its next sprinting talent with 16 the race. year old Dwayne Koroka participating in Despite being overtaken in the last 40m the Nanjing Youth men’s to finish second behind Bermuda’s Kionje 200 metres event. Somner, Koroka’s improvements in his Koroka only took to the track fairly re- running show promising signs for the cently and prior to the Youth Olympics young Port Moresby International School had only competed in the Oceania Cham- Grade 10 student. pionships earlier this year. “The Games have been challenging but a His natural ability was on display in his real eye-opener to what high level com- first race when running in the third pre- petition is all about. liminary heat. “I have really come to appreciate the im- He crossed the line third in a time of portance of commitment and long hours 22.38 seconds, slashing a massive 0.6 of training in order to produce results. seconds off his personal best. “Now I feel confident to perform at inter- This time qualified him for the C final, national race standards,” Koroka said of which he ran in 22.69 seconds. his experience. Despite the time being somewhat slower Koroka’s performances have won him the than his earlier race, his performance admiration of 1991 South was an improvement considering the 400m gold medalist and coach Babo who conditions, with heavy storms during the said, “Dwayne has a bright future ahead day and light drizzles during the night and the experience gained here will go a making the track slower and more diffi- long way. cult to manage. “For me, he could be the best 200 metre Although not getting off to the quickest runner PNG has produced if he continues of starts, Koroka was able to catch up to to work on his form and benefits from his competitors on the bend and then more coaching.” leading coming out of the curve. PNG will look forward to seeing what this The improvement on the running of the youngster has to offer to his sport and FULL SPEED: Koroka running in bend would have pleased Coach, Subul the places his hard work will take him. the 200m C final. Babo immensely as this was an area of

BEARING the national flag of your for Papua New Guinea was an enormous country is a huge honour for privilege and honor to represent both Barbara’s those who have done it at the my family and my country. largest sporting arenas on the “Although I was exceptionally nervous world stage. walking out into the stadium, all my Papua New Guinea’s young nerves disappeared once I spotted my pride of female swimmer, Barbara fellow team mates sitting in the stand,” Vali-Skelton had the joy of she said. carrying her country’s flag “It was an incredible experience and one bearing at the opening ceremony I won’t ever forget.” of the 2nd Youth Olympic Vali-Skelton competed in the 100m free- Games in Nanjing, China on style and breast stroke events at the August 16th. Youth Olympics. the flag “Being the flag bearer P 2 PAPUA NEW GUINEASPORTS OLYMPIC COMMITTEE INC. GARAMUTAUGUST 2014

GOLDEN GIRL: Toua has won PNG’s second gold medal at the in Glasgow. Second GOLD for PNG PAPUA New Guinea received its second tion and India’s Santoshi Matsa settled up to the 16th spot on the medal tally – a gold medal at this year’s Commonwealth for bronze with her total 188kg. spot where the Pacific nation has never Games after positive drug test results dis- Now, after failing the drug test, The been before. qualified Nigeria’s Chika Amalaha. gold will go to Toua, silver to Matsa and President of PNG Olympic Committee The 16 year old Nigerian had won gold Swati Singh also of India who finished in and PNG Weightlifting Federation, Sir in the women’s 53kg division with a total the fourth place will move up to get the John Dawanincura said this is a historical lift of 196kg to push PNG’s Dika Toua who bronze. moment for PNG that all in the Team and lifted a total of 193kg to the silver posi- With two gold medals, PNG now moves also in PNG should be proud of. Lohia smashes his best in Nanjing Youth Olympics

PNG’s male weightlifter at the unsuccessful second lift. Toua, was full of praise for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, He carried his form in the young lifter. Igo Lohia, was very pleased with snatch to the clean & jerk sec- “Igo had to overcome some is- his performance in the 62kg di- tion of the competition as well. sues with his weight in the lead vision on August 18th as he out Lohia was able to clean & jerk up to competition which saw did his personal best by 15kg. 90kg, 95kg and 100kg in his him compete in the heavier Lohia from Hanuabada, was three successful lifts to record a 62kg category, so for him to the lightest lifter in a field of 11 total of 175kg. produce some good quality lifts which saw most of the other The final scorecard may have and beat his personal best is lifters up to two years older listed him listed as finishing fantastic,” she said. than him. 11th but for Lohia, breaking his Lohia aims to continue to lift Beginning with 70kg on his first personal best by an impressive and emulate the success of Ste- lift in the snatch, Lohia went on 15kg was a fantastic effort. ven Kari and Dika Toua at the to 75kg on his third lift after an His coach for the Games, Dika elite level.

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