| Sports |
Pini settles for record and a gold
By WENDY KATUSELE
PAPUA New Guinea’s
swimming sensation Ryan Pini continued his dominance at the
Faleata Aquatic Centre in Apia yesterday, collecting another
gold medal in his favourite 100 metres butterfly event with
another Games record.
PNG also collected a silver in the pool from Australian-based
Anna Lisa Mopio-Jane in the 200m freestyle after she missed out
on a medal in 100m on Monday and 50m finals just minutes before
the 100m race yesterday where she turned on a brilliant
performance to finish behind New Caledonia for the silver.
But yesterday was again another glorious moment for our golden
fish Pini who clocked the fastest time in that 100m butterfly
event earlier in the day, and went on to grab his third gold
medal of the games later in the evening clocking 53.46 seconds
bettering the previous record by 1.72 seconds.
Pini’s gold was the 11th collected since Tuesday (Monday, Samoa
time), and one of three for the day ñ the other two gold and one
silver coming from weightlifting and to 17-year-old Hanuabada
lass Jodie Kokiva.
For Pini, it was at the 100m butterfly that the swimming
champion held the whole of PNG at a standstill as people watched
on television to see him win PNG’s first ever gold medal in
swimming at the Commonwealth Games in Sydney.
Pini has seven more events to go, it is predicted the gold fish
is set to grab 10 gold medals at the conclusion of the swimming
on Saturday.
However, the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay team of Daniel, Ian
Nakmai, Nathan Ampaio with Pini anchoring finished fourth,
missing out on a medal.
Pini was ecstatic about his gold win although admitting it was a
tired first day of competition.
He told NBC commentators on live coverage in Samoa that he was
happy with the results, adding that the training in Brisbane had
continued to pay off.
“I am happy with what I have done so far, especially with my
fellow Papua New Guineas urging me on while in the pool,” Pini
said.
On Monday, the three-time PNG sportsman of the year won two gold
medals in his not-so favourite events - the 200m freestyle
clocking 1.50.72 seconds, and 26.78 second in 50m freestyle to
also record two games record.
In the 200m, Pini broke New Caledonia’s Olivier Saminadin’s
dominance in that event for the past three SP Games.
Samanadin settled for silver while Guam’s new kid on the block
Christopher Duenas settled for bronze.
 
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