Athletes prepare for games

PREPARATIONS are underway for Team Papua New Guinea athletes to the upcoming Pacific Mini Games, Commonwealth Games and Oceania Championships, says an official.
The athletes teamed up with a development squad in Goroka to prepare for the international meets.
Athletics head coach Brett Green told The National that the athletes had gone through screening tests to identify niggling injuries that may interrupt their preparations.
“We did some medical screening to monitor them and identify niggling injuries that need to be dealt with at this stage”, Green said.
“We want to focus on the Games.”
Green joined Athletics PNG in 2017 and worked with throwers, particularly in shot put and discus.
Since then, he has being assisting athletes produce positive results in international meets, the recent one being the 2019 Samoa Pacific Games where PNG finished second.
Green is thrilled to lead the PNG athletics contingent to the Mini Pacific Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas, in June.
He has brought in Bernard Manau, Allan Akia and Malcolm Limbai to assist the team.
“They will be with the athletes during training to utilise their experience in the team,” Green said.
With two months left before the Pacific Mini Games, the athletes will continue training at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
Green said more effort was needed to improve the upcoming athletes.
“We’re continuing the education of the athletes, nutrition recovery, and strength and conditioning,” he said.
While it is early to predict the number of medals that Team PNG may win, Green backed the athletes to perform well in the Games.