Balancing act for trio

 By ISAAC LIRI 

THREE students from the Caritas Technical Secondary School, who are members of the Pacific Games Taekwondo squad, said the Games would not affect their concentration towards their studies.  

Fighters Doris David, Rayheb Loi and Rose Tona said they have already made arrangements with the PNG Taekwondo Federation, the school, and their guardians.   

Since the Pacific Games is considered a major event for the trio, the girls will be given special treatment in cases where they will be able to sit for exams in a different time if they happen to miss one. 

The youngsters said their parents were happy and looking forward to see them compete in the region’s premier sports event — and they were giving their full support to the PNGTF and Caritas. 

Nineteen-year-old Doris, the eldest among the three, said they were capable of balancing their focus on studies and preparation for the Games, even though they realised that it was going to be challenging. 

The Under-57kg green belt lass from Madang, Morobe and Gulf is a first-timer in the national squad and she wants her debut to be her best memory. 

For Rose, she said before she was a student of Caritas, she always had in mind that she wanted to follow her taekwondo Olympian big sister, Theresa Tona. 

“I always wanted to take part in taekwondo. 

“When I came to school here, I found the environment good because I could train under good masters and concentrate on my school work too,” she said.  

She said after winning gold for team Central last year at the PNG Games in Lae, she was motivated and now she has her eyes fixed on winning a gold medal in the Pacific Games in the Under-49kg division.  

The youngest of the three, Loi will take part in the Under-53kg division. 

The teenager from Central, Madang and Sepik said representing the country was her short-term goal and being educated long-term.