TEAM Central boxing squad finished top in the gold medal count in the third PNG Games staged in Lae, Morobe province, last week.
The boxing team dominated by Bereina fighters won six gold medals, three silver medals and a bronze medal.
Boxing team spokesman Andrew Magaiva said the medal winners are Henry Ine’e (48kg – silver) Andrew Kape (51kg - bronze), Andrew Aopa (54kg - silver), Joe Magaiva (57kg - gold), Emil Lala (60kg - gold), Aloysius Mapai (64kg - gold), Michael Oiake (69kg - gold) and female boxers Angela Rex (51kg - gold), Pauline Joe (57kg - gold) and Priscilla Efi (60kg - silver).
Magaiva said Team Central really underestimated its boxing team’s strength and allowed a one boxing club – Inauwae - to represent the province.
However, Team Central and the boxing team came to a compromise so they went ahead to fight at the Games.
He said boxing team would like to ask Team Central to allow Bereina to represent the province in any future boxing tournament.
The spokesman said that since the majority of the fighters are from Bereina, the boxing team would like Central Province administration to assist them financially to purchase boxing equipment.
“Boxing in Bereina and Mekeo area is very strong and Central province should invest in purchasing boxing equipment for Bereina Boxing Association so that all the affiliated clubs with Bereina can benefit,” he said.
Comparing what Bereina has won for Central Province, they need to be compensated through the purchase boxing equipmen for the association, Magaiva said.
Magaiva thanked Team Central for allowing Bereina to represent Central province in boxing in particular their sponsor Pastor Lawrence Pukali, Henry Ine’e, Benson Plumbing and Building Contractors plus all the Mekeo community in Lae for supporting Team Central boxing squad.