| Sports |
We’re on target for more medals
By HENRY MORABANG in Apia,
Samoa
Team PNG is on
target in terms of number of gold medal won at the Xlll South
Pacific Games currently underway in Apia, Samoa.
Chef de Mission Tamzin Wardley and Sir John Dawanincura were
equally pleased with the overall performance of Team PNG.
Sir John said, “We are still within the target in top five in
terms of number of goals and will increase it when the
competition starts tomorrow when athletics team hit the tracks
of Apia Park Stadium.”
He said this has been the best performance so far by teams
because PNGSF and the teams had the good financial back from
national government and corporate sponsors.
Sir John said he would like to take the opportunity to thank
Graeme Osborn who is in Apia as the guest for ANZ Bank Pacific
to witness the games.
“I want to thank him for the government support through MRDC
funding from PNG Sports Trust which the Prime Minister Sir
Michael Somare initiated to support sports for the Apia Games.
“While thanking the government, I also would like thanked
several sponsors such as MRDC, Trukai Industries, Telikom PNG,
Air Niugini, SP Brewery, Ok Tedi and many other corporate funds
who have lend their helping hands,” he said.
The team spirit is very high in the Games Village with sports
supporting each other.
Sir John said full credit must go to Rugby Sevens team who
turned up to cheer for teams when they are not playing.
Wardley simply summed it up as, “Team PNG’s performance has been
fantastic and the team is well ahead in terms of number of gold
medal”.
“All sports have done the country proud by putting their best
performance and also winning medals at the Games,” she said.
She reported that so far surfing and archery did not do well.
Archery have set some PNG records at the Games but were far from
medal contention which something PNG Archery Association will
have to work on.
Team PNG general manager Numa Alu also expressed the same
sentiment stating we (Team Management) could not have ask for
more as all teams have performed exceptionally well.
Swimming through Ryan Pini started Day One of competition with
gold medal, and PNG has never left out of gold medal race, he
added.
He said that so far so good, Team PNG is within its objective to
finish in the top five placing before the completion of the
Games.
 
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