“IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE” Issue 07 Monthly Newsletter July, 2014 PNG’s Golden Boy Kari wins gold for PNG

GOLDEN SMILE: Kari shows off his medal after the medal ceremony. STEVEN Kari has won a Gold medal for Pap- Kari lifted a total of 349kg (149 + 200) the Kari who is based in Noumea, New Caledo- ua New Guinea in the 94kg division of the men’s 94kg division to win the gold and nia where he trains under the watchful eye men’s weightlifting at the Commonwealth leaving ’s Simplice Ribouem who of former Australian national coach, Paul Games in Glasgow. lifted 349kg (153 + 196) to settle for silver Coffa at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute. The 21 year old Kari made history in his and Chandrakant Mali of India with the He said it took him four years to train and sport for PNG to win their first gold while bronze for his total of 338kg (150 + 188). work hard for it and he was always confi- female lifter, Dika Toua received a silver While news of Kari’s lift has already reached dent of winning a medal at the Common- medal in her 53kg division. his village in Hanuabada in Port Moresby wealth Games this year. However, Toua has a possibility of promot- where people are already celebrating, the “It is a great honour for me and I am very ing that to gold after the gold medal win- country is also waiting eagerly for the sec- thankful for all the support and encourage- ner from Nigeria, Chika Amalaha’s first drug ond tests results from Toua’s competition ment from everyone back home,” Kari said. test results was positive for a banned sub- to see if another Gold medal will be added stance in her system. to their tally. OUR SPONSORS JULYSPORTS 2014 GARAMUTPAPUA NEW GUINEA OLYMPIC COMMITTEE INC. Toua awaits Amalaha’s results

Possible gold medal for PNG OH YEAH! Toua celebrating her lift. With a silver medal already remain high after Amalaha’s around her neck, Papua New results from her A sample re- gold while Toua finished with will be stripped of her title, Guinea’s female weightlifter, turned positive for a banned a silver medal with a total of the gold would instead be Dika Toua is waiting for the substance in her system. 193kg while India’s Santoshi awarded to Toua, while San- final drug test results for Ni- She has appealed for a second Matsa got the bronze for her toshi Matsa of India would be geria’s Chika Amalaha to see if test and that has been carried total of 188kg in the women’s upgraded to silver, and Mat- she will change that for a gold out on her B sample. 53kg division. sa’s compatriot Swati Singh one. The 16 year old Amalaha lifted If the teenager’s second sam- would take bronze. Toua and Team PNG’s hopes a total of 196kg to claim the ple also returns positive, she Minister assures Team PNG They have full support of the Government PAPUA New Guinea Sports with the PNG athletes and of- Minister, Justin Tkatchenko ficials. assured Team PNG athletes Tkatchenko also told the rep- and officials participating in resentatives that they were the XX ambassadors of the country. in Glasgow, Scotland, that the “You are ambassadors and government is in full support representing the country. of the task before them. “Everything you do tells oth- In a small ceremony at the ers about your country,” he Games said. Village, “Be proud Tkatch- “Be proud of of PNG enko said: and be “We are PNG and be good good am- happy bassa- for your ambassadors.” dors.” achieve- He re- ment for minded getting here. athletes that the govern- “Now the next part is for you ment is providing an incentive to do your very best.” where those who won a gold Tkatchenko, with dignitaries; medal would get K100,000, PNGOC Secretary General Au- silver K50,000 and bronze vita Rapilla, PNGOC President K25,000. SUPPORT: Minister Tkatchenko addressing the Team at the Sir John Dawanincura, Chef He was presented gifts by Grand Papua Hotel in Port Moresby before their depature for de Mission Emma Waiwai and Mrs. Waiwai, as well as a Scot- Glasgow on Sunday July 13, 2014. PNG Sports Foundation Chair- tish volunteer representative, man Graham Osborne, met John Brisbane.

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DEMONSTRATION: A gym instructor shows athletes some exercise during the opening of the new Team PNG High Performance Training Centre.

PNGOC opens High Focus on training Performance PNG elite Training Centre athletes

ON July 10th this year, the Pap- able to train the athletes. the world. ua New Guinea Olympic Com- Each sport has a schedule for PNGOC Secretary General, Mrs. mittee open the doors to one using the gym and are given a Auvita Rapilla said the plan to of its biggest achievements so specific program to follow dur- open a High Performance cen- far – its new High Performance ing their sessions. tre was in the Strategic Plan Training Centre. The gym is located opposite of PNGOC and it was great to Minister for Sports and 2015 the PNGOC office within the finally set it up for PNG’s elite , Justin Tkatch- Telikom Compound at 4 Mile in athletes to use. enko cut the ribbon at 11:00am Port Moresby. The Centre was set up in time to open a facility that will no Minister Tkatchenko congratu- for athletes to use in prepara- doubt benefit all of PNG’s elite lated PNGOC for establishing tion for the Pacific Games in athletes. the High Performance Centre 2015. The Training Centre is a large and urged all national sports President of Pacific Games SNIP: Minister Tkatchenko gymnasium fully equipped with teams to utilize it fully and also Council, Vidhya Lakhan con- cuts the ribbon to mark the weights, punching bags, train- look after it well. gratulated PNGOC for their new opening of PNGOC’s new ing machines and a rehabilita- He said athletes can now get High Performance Centre say- High Performance Training tion centre for athletes. the same high performance ing that it was a great achieve- Centre. Well trained Strength and Con- training in PNG that they would ment that will benefit their ath- ditioning Coaches are also avail- get in Australia or elsewhere in letes well.

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Toea makes two semi final finishes

Toea Wisil pushed her group, one of hard on the tracks three groups in the in the women’s semis. 100 and 200 metre She missed out on sprints which took making the finals her to the semi fi- but was pleased nals in both races. with the results. In the 100m, Wisil also fought she ran a Sea- hard in the 200m son’s Best time semis after qualify- of 11.44 seconds ing in the heart but the semi finals, also missed out on ON THE TRACK: Wisil (right) running in finishing fourth in making the final. the semi final of the Women’s 200m race. Ready for Nanjing Young Team set for Youth Olympics Games PAPUA New Guinea’s Team for the Youth Olym- mostly sporting competitions, the YOG also fo- pics (YOG) in Nanjing, is ready to attend cuses on educational and cultural aspects and the Games from August 16th to 28th, this year. is always a fun event for the young representa- The Team’s uniforms and travel arrangements tives. have been made and squads for the respective The Team for Nanjing will depart the country a sports have been finalized. week after the senior Team PNG returns from Athletics, football (soccer), sailing, swimming the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. and weightlifting are the five sports that will represent PNG at the YOG with 26 athletes and 10 officials. The athletics team will feature Dwayne Koroka under the guidance of coach Subul Babo while the PNG U15 girls make up the football team. Sailing will be represented by Numa Teariki and his coach, Raymond Numa while Barbara-Vali Skelton and Collin Akara will be splashing un- der the watch of as their coach. In weightlifting, athletes Bea Ovia and Igo Lo- hia will be under Dika Toua’s care. The Team’s Chef de Mission is Alex Davani and FUN AND GAMES: Representatives from the General Manager is Andrew Lepani. different countries involved in a group activity The Team doctor is Dr. Kefu Ma and the Young during a meeting for the YOG earlier in the Ambassador is Hannah Ilave. year. Participants at the Games will be in- While most of the senior sports events feature volved in similar activities during the Games.

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