Aunt, nephew qualify

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

THE PNG Taekwondo Federation has for the first time qualified two athletes for the Olympics during the weekend’s Oceania Taekwondo qualifier at the Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby.

The two fighters are Samantha Kassman in the over 68kg category and her nephew 17-year-old Max Kassman in the 68kg category.

Samantha automatically qualified when her four opponents failed to show up while for Max the ticket to Rio was through a fight he could only describe as a “hand of God” which he will never forget for years to come.

The event was attended by six countries including Australia and New Zealand and a refugee athlete who competed under the Olympic banner.

In the previous two Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 PNG had only qualified former fighter Theresa Tona.

The fight between Max and his Vanuatu opponent Bruce Jonathan got the few Vanuatu spectators and the large PNG crowds on their toes.

With both fighters exhausted and with the last three seconds to go Max was trailing 3-2 but a quick high “miraculous” kick to Jonathan’s forehead turned the results of the match around.

When the score to this kick was not electronically detected PNG assistant coach Andy Rutten showed his red card for a video replay and the international referees reviewed the video and awarded three points to Max to win 5-3.

Max told The National after the fight that it was a miraclous moment where everything happened so fast.

“As the clock was ticking I had only three seconds left so just went for it (high kick to his forehead).

“Because the kick was not electronically detected the referees reviewed it and gave me the fight and I am happy to qualify for Rio,” he said.

National coach Edward Kassman said the results were pleasing because out of the four fighters selected he tipped three but getting two qualified was still good.

PNG Taekwondo president Peter Miria said it was a proud moment for PNG Taekwondo to qualify on home soil because in the past Theresa Tona had been attending international fights to qualify.

The other two PNG fighters who lost their fights in the finals were Rose Tona in the 48kg and Jonathan Paskalis in the over 80kg category.

It would be the first time for the Kassman duo to attend the Olympics and both said they were looking forward to their training and preparing to represent PNG on the world stage.

Out of the eight places given to the Oceana region Australia won four places, PNG two, New Zealand one and Tonga one.