Tere-Apisah Oz bound
By THADDEUS TIRIMAN
LAST year has been a successful year for one of Papua New Guinea’s aspiring tennis star Abigail Tere-Apisah, who has been hitting it out right in the ITF Pacific Oceania Regional Training Centre in Fiji.
She is now prepared to move on from her old school to a more competitive environment in Albury, Australia.
After spending four years through an ANZ sponsored scholarship programme training at the regional centre, the teenager will be joining the Margaret Court Tennis Academy in Albury, Australia this year. The 15-year-old’s success in the academy will determine her next move, which will be a shot at a professional career in tennis and so far sponsorship offers are pouring in for her by friends and authorities who believe Abigail can make it to the very top.
She has been successful in tournaments in Australia and New Zealand, including the Margaret Court Junior Championships in which she won 6-0, 6-0 against a top junior Australian, where the Margaret Court Tennis Academy announced she has been given a scholarship worth A$1000. Phil Shanahan, the director of the Margaret Court Junior Academy, also confirmed they were giving Abigail free coaching. To top it all off, she has been offered free accommodation in Albury.

Softball training squad named
THE Port Moresby Men’s Softball Association have announced their training squad for the National Softball Championship to be held in the nation’s capital during the Easter break.
The train on squad has been divided into two teams consisting of 25 players each, the Digicel Reds and the Digicel Whites
The teams were named with their coaches and managers as well.
The teams:Digicel Reds – Apisai Guguna, Daniel Kaputin, Danny Mong, Danny Tovia, David Maira, David Mickey, David Upaupa, Demas Totil Jnr, Dick Bart Jr, Dimic Wosley, Elias Voivoi, George Pukur, Isikel Tovia Jr, Isimel Marnapal, Michael Parom, Passi Pialkolos, Paul Bogan, Paul Tabete, Peter Kaminiel, Sam Ulur, Samuel Ropa, Tauna Willie, Thomas Kuwoh, Tony Williams and Yaha Ahobe.
Digicel Whites: Alistair Tavol, Alvin Sabumei, Andrew Livuana, Anthony Raphael, Consie Bais, Consie Lumaris, Daniel Kinakava, Demas Tovia, Eddie Simba Gabriel Pamel Gela Geno, Guy Kila, Harry Matthew, Joe Avuchulas Jr, John Bualten, Nelson Kiap, Ora Gimi, Patrick Pilak, Peter Urari, Philip Samuel, Saga Gimi, Sam Malum Jr, Siani Turlom, Tony Karani and Tul Malisa.

Possible line-up
Inspac Rapatona
Clinton Caleb, John Baulo, Richard Lapan, Selan Elizah, Chique Posman, Kialou Pouru, Andrew Marampau, Elizah Sigimata, Pecy Matao, Tapas Posman, Lewen Bob, Jason Wesley, Richard Povi, Ravu Habuka Robert Diau, Lawrence Diau and Adolf Harris.

Morobe Kumuls
Rodney Taulau, Cyril Muta, Mathew Yang, Fabian Bagi, Sowera Gurti, Ken Gule, Koniel Igens, Amstrong Peka, Raymond Gunemba and Allan Kanbai. David Kavira, Michael Foster, Cherry Rauna, Hans Mambare, Thomson Was, Clement Peka and Edmund Lalo.

Marus backs sports
ACTING speaker and Member for Talasea, Francis Marus will support sports and other youth activities in the electorate if it is properly organised and youths are committed. Electorate Officer to the Member Joseph Warku said this while presenting K2,000 in cash to a sporting group in Section 10 in Kimbe last Friday. He said the MP had already committed more than K40,000 to sports in the province of which K25,000 was given to team WNB for the PNG Games in Lae last November. Warku said another K10,000 was given to the organisers of the Kimbe Tavur team to host the Francis Marus Cup during the New Year. He said teams all over the province participated including two teams from Kandrian-Gloucester electorate. Warku said the game won by Kimbe Blues, who took the major prize, while runner-up Bialla received K5,000. He said the MP had also agreed to support the Kimbe Tavur team in their campaign to enter the SP Cup Rugby League Competition this year.

Pukpuks in strong pool
Digicel Pukpuks will play their pool games today in the Wellington Sevens. The two-day tournament will include teams from all major rugby playing nations as well as second tier nations like Japan and Tonga and minnows in PNG. The Pukpuks have been drawn in a very strong pool with tournament favourites New Zealand, a powerful Samoan side and Canada. The speed of Kandrian flier Gina Ponda along with the experience of Aiem Pilakos and company will need to be fully utilised to ensure that PNG come away with credible performances. The
Pukpuks, who went winless in last years event, will be aiming to be more competitive in all their pool matches with Canada being the best opportunity to spring an upset.

Its all downhill for runners
Tomorrow, afternoon at 4.45pm, runners will meet for the popular Mike Joyce Memorial. This is the best chance for most runners to set personal best times over for 5km as the course is mostly downhill. Meet at the POM Grammar car park, corner of Bava Street and Taurama Road. All welcome and still only 20t to participate.