| Sports |
First gold in team squash
PNG squash won their first ever gold
medal in Team Event at the Xlll South Pacific Games in Apia,
Samoa over the weekend.
The team, Eli Webb, Kristine Seeto, Naluge Guy and Bridgett
Matrus overpowered their Cook Islands opponents to win the
medal.
Webb and Seeto set the pace by cleaning up the courts with 3-nil
respective and Guy who came back to the courts after 2 and half
years, anchored the team to their first ever medal.
Guy defeated South Pacific seeded number two player and New
Zealand-based Tepua Russel to win the match.
Tepua is based in New Zealand but have represented Cook Islands
on many international and regional events.
Guy described her win as awesome as she has been out of court
for the last two years, and it was a happy feeling to win a gold
medal at the first international competition – and that was SP
Games in PNG.
“I am very proud to win the gold medal,” she said.
It is not over yet as PNG will enter the individual events
today, and Guy is optimistic that she would grab another medal
again.
She said the stronger opposition would come from New Caledonia,
the Cook Islands and Fiji.
Coach Madako Suari said he was happy with the gold medal from
the team event.
She commended former world-rated player Naluge Guy who made big
bang on the courts to win the gold medal.
….
Returning home
THIRTEEN sports who have completed their competition will return
to PNG on Sunday (Samoa time) on the first charter.
Chef de Mission Tamzin Wardley said the teams are archery, beach
volleyball, cricket, bodybuilding, golf, hockey, netball, rugby,
softball, surfing, swimming, touch rugby and weightlifting.
She said the teams will be on that charter for the Games would
be the powerlifting and boxing team plus several executives.
Athletic team arrived on Saturday (PNG time) for competition
which starts Monday (Samoa time Sunday).
….
Touch of success
TOUCH Rugby is the only team with Team PNG who has 100% success
rate after winning three bronze medals at the Xlll South Pacific
Games in Apia, Samoa.
Senior team official and Mixed Team coach Joe Yore was overall
pleased with the performance of the three teams nominated for
the games – Men’s Open, Women’s Open and the Mixed Team.
He said despite not improving from the last SP Games performance
were the team won silver, Touch Rugby Team management was happy
with the outcome of the games.
….
PNG on track
PNG track and field athletes arrived on Saturday from Brisbane,
Australia, where they have been training after the Melanesian
and Oceania Grand Prix early this month.
The team with coach Noami Polum had to rush to the women’s
softball grand final to lend their support to Noami’s daughter,
Lisa, who was one of the outstanding stars of the women’s team
that won the medal.
The athletic competition will start on Tuesday at Apia Park
athletics tracks.
 
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