Waiwai still hopeful

Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
Team PNG is confident of doing well in the remaining sports in the Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Chef de mission Emma Waiwai told The National from Port Vila yesterday that despite New Caledonia rocketing to the top spot, PNG would be there on the final day.
“We managed to lead in the first week because of selected weights in weightlifting in which we picked up 14 gold medals but New Caledonia overtook us because of karate, judo and golf.”
Waiwai said they knew that PNG were very strong in athletics so Team PNG had a chance to improve their standing in the remaining days of competition.
“Athletics has been medal producers for Team PNG in the Mini and the main Pacific Games so it would be interesting if we can manage that in Vanuatu.”
Waiwai said PNG made a clean sweep in women’s long jump yesterday by winning gold, silver and bronze beating Fiji and New Caledonia.
Rellie Kaputin won gold with a jump of 6.40m while silver the medal went to Annie Topal who leapt 5.68m and Adrine Monagi got the bronze with a jump of 5.59m
Peniel Richard won silver in men’s high Jump with 2.03m while Fijian Malakia Kaiwalu won gold with a jump of 2.06m. Tonga’s Mosese Poliaki won bronze with a jump of 2.00m.
Middle distance runner Simbai Kaspar won the first medal for PNG in athletics when he picked up bronze in the 10,000m in a time of 34.27.40 behind local runners Armon Napuat (silver 34.07.84) and Simon Charley (gold 34.05.91)
Martin Orovo won silver medal in a time of 1.55.77 in 800m behind Cook Island’s Alex Beddoes who won gold in a time of 1.54.77 while Fiji’s Petero Veitaqomaki settled for bronze in a time of 1.57.12.
In the women’s 800m, Poro Gahekave won silver (2:18.00) and Tuna Tine (2:19.30) settled for bronze while local girl, Valentine Hello of Vanuatu won gold in a time of 2:16.76.
Sprint queen Toea Wisil won her heat and will be heading to the finals today at Korman Stadium.
In men’s three-on-three basketball PNG won all of their three matches yesterday.
PNG defeated Cook Islands 10-7 in their first game then went to beat Northern Mariannas 8-7, and Fiji 7-5.
In the women’s games, PNG won their first match against Solomon Islands 12-8 but lost to Cook Islands 9-2 in the second.