600 players set for volleyball meet

MORE than 600 participants from 20 associations in PNG will be competing at the 2010 Digicel national volleyball championships in Lae this week.
Last Friday, Trukai Industries presented 10 new volleyball nets to the PNG Volleyball Federation to host the games.
Trukai marketing coordinator Fred Toua said the championship was a great avenue for the development of the sport.
“There will be a lot of great talent from across the country taking part. We are always looking forward to support our athletes where possible to enable them to perform at their best,” Toua said.
The event will showcase two divisions – the open and U21 for both men and women. 
Federation president Turaho Morea said the championship would  be held at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium starting Nov 11-14.
It will also provide the opportunity for the selection of players for the next year’s Arafura Games in Darwin and the Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.
He also added that the federation would also be staging its inaugural national volleyball summit for all administrators from affiliated associations. The two-day summit will start today followed by an annual general meeting on Wednesday.
“Trukai is synonymous with sports in Papua New Guinea at all levels. Trukai has teamed up with many sporting bodies to build champions over the years.
“We are excited that it has now established a partnership with volleyball through this donation,” Morea said.
Volleyball has attracted a lot of attention, especially after the Vabukori men won a gold medal at last year’s Arafura Games, and the national men’s silver medal win at this year’s Oceania Volleyball Championship in New Caledonia. 
“Trukai Industries’ partnership has come at the right time and we hope we can build on this over the years,” he said.
In line with promoting a healthy lifestyle, Trukai has been diligently involved in sports development for more than 10 years, through its sponsorship of the Trukai Youth Sports Programme with the PNG Sports Foundation and the ever-popular Trukai Fun Run with the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee.