Team PNG arrive home

Sports

By MELTON PAIS
Seven out of the 16-member Team PNG contingent arrived home yesterday after taking part in the sixth edition of the Youth Commonwealth Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
Chef de mission Michael Henao said the other nine members of the team who were not based in Papua New Guinea had left for their respective countries of residence after arriving in Brisbane, Australia, on Tuesday.
Among those who arrived in Port Moresby were the beach volleyball pair,  Damien Aisi and Tonnie Gina, who ranked seventh in the competition after having a good start and a grand finish for the two young men.
Henao said the whole purpose for Team PNG at the event was for the officials and athletes to gain as much experience as possible.
He said his team management and the officials were satisfied that each of their athletes had performed at their level to the best of their expectations.
“None of our athletes have won any medals but we are confident that we have set up an environment for them to learn and improve on their medal potentials in the upcoming games,” he said.
“They have learnt much to perform at such games like the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu later this year, the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April and the Youth Olympic Games at the end of next year. “We are satisfied that we have achieved our targets in the form of experience by going up against high class athletes from other countries.” On behalf of the team, Henao thanked all the sponsors for enabling them to attend the event.
“None of this would have been  possible without their support and sponsorship and I am very thankful,” Henao said.