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Sports |
It's history for boxers
By HENRY MORABANG
THREE women fighters will re-write
the history of boxing when Lamana PNG Boxing Team leaves today for
the Oceania Boxing Championships in Apia, Samoa.
Noami Sugar Ray, Marie Greg of Bereina and the Georgina Ketonai of
Bougainville were selected to represent Papua New Guinea following
the National Championship held in Port Moresby recently.
Veteran boxing administrator and PNG Team manager Dick Larry
confirmed that this would be the first time for any woman boxing
team to leave the shores for international tournaments.
Larry commended president Lohial Nuau for taking the initiative to
introduce women boxing in PNG. Coincidently Nuau's wife, Pauline,
is the only qualified AIBA women referee/judge in the country.
Noami Sugar Ray, who followed the footstep of her father and
mentor Sugar Ray Arua, told The National newspaper in an earlier
interview that she had always wanted to represent her country in
her sports.
She always wanted to don the red, gold and black colours, and
finally her dreams were realised when she was selected to
represent PNG.
"I am very happy to be selected to represent the country and would
want to continue at the highest level," she said.
The soft-spoken New Ireland and Central boxer said she would do
her best to win her fights and hopefully come home with a medal.
The camera-shy Georgina Ketonai said she would do her best for her
country. "This would be my first travel overseas and I am looking
forward to it - will give the best shot," she said.
Marie Greg is no push over. She would do her best to represent the
country.
"I will make sure I stamp my mark on the ring - win or lose," the
confident Bereina fighter said.
 
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