| Sports |
Pini, Mopio Jane in swim team for
Arafura Games
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
Commonwealth Games swimmers Ryan Pini,
Anna-Liza Mopio Jane, Judith Meauri and Nicole Ellsworth are part
of a 22-person Arafura games swim team announced by the PNG
Swimming Inc. yesterday.
The team is made up of Pacific games training squad members and up
and coming Constantinou development squad members.
The team was finalized following the TNT national short course
championships in Lae last weekend.
Pini has been invited to take part as an invitational swimmer.
Director of the Arafura games, Northern Territory Government
Adrian Curry said Pini epitomizes what the games are all about
because that is where he got some of his early international
experience from.
“It is this sort of stepping stone that we aim to provide to all
aspiring athletes,” he said.
“It also demonstrates why it is important for us to have the
invitational category to
continue to protect the concept of the games being designed for
developing athletes”.
If Pini makes it to the finals and wins, he will be awarded a gold
medal but it will not be recorded in the official medal tally.
The next swimmer will get the official gold medal.
Pini has also been included in the PNG relay team fulfilling a
Pacific Games requirement of having a relay swimmer swim in an
event prior to the games.
He will be joined by Australian sprinter Patrick Johnson and David
More (Pistol shooting) who will also take part as invitational
athletes.
The PNG touring party will comprise of ten female, 12 male and
three officials.
Female: Barbara Leana-Vali, Anthea Murray, Victoria Allen, Chelsea
Salter (12 years and under category), Judith Meauri, Carmen Kolta,
Nicole Ellsworth (15-16 years), Dorcas Emmanuel, Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane
and Beryl Madouna (open).
Male: James Omundsen, Stanford Gore, Arthur Maikin, Jenixong Lim
(12 years and under), Peter Pokawin, Danny Pryke, Nathan Ampa’oi
(13-14 years), Ian Nakmai, Adam Ampa’oi (15-16 years), Ryan Pini,
Kris Tebela and Ben Wells (open).
Tony Sari (coach), Barbara Skelton (manager) and Kila Vali
(assistant manager).
 
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