Commitment vital too, says former runner Dupnai

COMMITMENT, the right attitude and a good family environment are important ingredients to realise one dreams, says a former PNG long distance runner.
Aaron Dupnai the technical head and assistant coordinator of Team Western made this remarks yesterday during the start of the Athletics challenge at the third PNG Games held at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.
“Discipline and commitment are very important if you want to excel in your sport code. Remember you can be the best sportsman but if you have the wrong attitude it is a waste of time,” Dupnai said.
His advice to upcoming young talents at the PNG Games is: “Do not smoke, do not do drugs, have a good diet and use the talents you have been blessed with wisely.”
He said pep-talks and getting into the right frame of mind and team spirit are also important.
Dupnai represented PNG in long distance from 1985ñ1998 when he quit due to work commitment and took up coaching.
Currently he is the chairman of the provincial youth sports council and is committed to sharing his experiences with the young talents and help them get exposure.
In 1985 during the National Athletics championships in Port Moresby Dupnai was identified as an up and coming athlete while representing Western Province and trained under former National athletics coach Vuatha Kapa.
His specialises in the 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and marathon being the only national to come within seconds of the long-standing records of another former PNG long distance great Tau John Tokwepota.
During the 8th SP Games in Noumea New Caledonia Dupnai came in second twice to Frenchman and record holder Alain Lazare in the 10, 000 meters and the marathon.
He qualified for the Seoul Olympics in 1988 where he gained a lot of experience coming 15th out of 30 contestants in the 10,000m and 12th out of 135m in the marathon.
In 1990 saw him again wear the red, black and gold in the 14th Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.