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Sports |
PNG confirmed to box in Chicago
tournament
By HENRY MORABANG
The world boxing
governing body, AIBA, will foot the bill for PNG team to the
world championships in Chicago, USA.
PNG Amateur Boxing Union president Lohial Nuau revealed this
after AIBA president Dr Ching Kuo Wu confirmed AIBAís assistance
in letter dated Sept 27.
Dr Wu said the AIBA assistance will cover airfares,
accommodation, meals, internal transport for the 15 days of
competition.
PNG is one of the three countries in Oceania region that will be
sending their team to take part. The other two are Australia who
will be sending 11 boxers while New Zealand will send four.
PNG will be among 114 countries in the world taking part with a
total of 623 boxers confirmed for the World Championships
surpassing the previous mark for AIBAís premier event of 412
boxers from 74 countries in 2005.
Nuau thanked AIBA president Dr Wu for his interest in third
world countries like PNG and also small island countries in the
Oceania region.
When asked why Samoa who scooped a lot of medal was not included
in the Oceania team, Nuau said they did not meet the deadline
that was why they did not win any spot.
He said PNG is attending the tournament as representing PNG
because it is the first Olympic Qualifying for each countries
qualifying for the Beijing Games in 2008.
Meanwhile, Fiji military government of Frank Baninamara has
given thumps up for Fiji to host the 2008 Oceania Boxing
Championships in Suva next March.
Boxing Fiji secretary Paula said Fiji Military Government and
Fiji Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee,
both gave the green light following the meeting recently.
“We will provide letters of support both from FASANOC and the
Government of Fiji to OBA in the next few days to show our
commitment to this very important sports event in the region in
2008,î the letter read.
Paula is requesting those countries interested to submit their
names by October 31 this year to allow Fiji enough time to
prepare to host the tournament.
She said Fiji is the centrally located and ideal place to host
such event given the easy accessibility from other regional
countries.†
îWe have got the resources, the facilities and the boxing fans
to host this event and no doubt the interim PM has given his
assurance that we are ready to host come March 7 2008,î she
said.
 
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