By JAMES KILA
TEAM Eastern Highlands, who are the current PNG Games champions, are sending over 450 athletes, the biggest ever from the Highlands region to this year’s PNG Games.
The team from “Nokondi country” who will be competing in 17 sports has also vowed to defend their title vigorously at this year’s event scheduled to be staged in Lae on Nov 15-24.
“We have the same determination and we intend to make history by winning the shield for the third time,” says Vegu Javano, the Eastern Highlands advisor of community development, when addressing some of the teams at training at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.
Mr Javano said he was satisfied with the current situation and was happy to see rural based athletes selected from the eight districts of the province currently training for the Games.
“There is no turning back or retreat for our 450 athletes contesting in 17 sports,” he said.
He said Team EHP has a strong backing from the provincial government who has taken ownership of the concept with the support from Governor Mal Smith-Kela and the other MPs from the province.
He said the MPs have pledged to support selected athletes from their district as they have done at the inter district games last month in Goroka to select Team EHP.
He reiterated that Team EHP is the biggest contingent from the Highlands region and that shows their determination to be competitive and at the same time expose its rural-based athletes in nation competitions.
Javano said the team vows to do well in ball games as well as individual events, such as boxing, athletics, weightlifting, bodybuilding and power lifting.
He said that they will have a team of youths competing in bowling and golf.
The team will also contest in hockey and softball and these teams are currently under intense training at the NSI.
Javano said the team acknowledges the support of the Director of the NSI, Edris Kumbruwah with facilities for training, especially hockey the equipment.
He said a full training camp is being arranged for athletes to brush up before traveling out of the province.
He said that the athletes and their management will be addressed by the head of delegation and provincial members before traveling out on November 15.