Baru heading to Australia for training

PACIFIC Games gold medallist weightlifter Morea Baru is set to depart for Australia with Papua New Guinea Weightlifting Federation coach Willie Mavara Tamasi on Sunday.
The two-time Olympian will join international coach Paul Coffa in Melbourne for training over the next three months in preparation for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games and Commonwealth Games.
PNG Weightlifting Federation president Sir John Dawanincura told The National on Wednesday that Pacific Games champion Dika Toua would join Baru and Coffa next month.
“Morea is departing on Sunday with the coach and Dika will leave at the end of March,” Dawanincura told The National.
“They’ve been in touch with Paul Coffa, so that’s what we’re planning at the moment.
“Subject to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we will try to extend their stay by another three months.
“But it’s up to the department, based on their policies and border control. Fortunately, their borders are open for tourists.
“So on that basis, we’re happy that we can get three months with Coffa, but we’ll try and extend it to six months, if we can.
“All of the arrangements (for their travel) are being made by their international coach.
“I’d like to acknowledge Coffa for his voluntary efforts in training our athletes at no cost whatsoever.
“This has been going on for quite some time, going back to 2011.
“It has been good team work alongside our naming rights sponsor, Coffa and elite athletes.”