Baru sets sights on Olympics

A new pearl in the Pacific Ocean is about to rise above the sea to create a new wave in the code of weightlifting.
Morea Baru is not a new name in Papua New Guinea sport, however, this young Hanuabada man is about to make a bigger name for himself — and the country — when he takes centre stage tomorrow at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Fiji.
Baru has his eyes set on this year’s Rio Olympics and is a good chance of getting there.
PNG Weightlifting’s major sponsor Trukai Industries are proud to be associated with the sport and have played a part in helping develop talent, particularly from the local community in Port Moresby.
General manager of sales and marketing Andrew Daubney said his company had backed weightlifting and its athletes and were pleased with the success they had and it would be no different for Baru.
“Morea has been training extremely hard in New Caledonia. I have no doubt that he will make the country proud when he lifts today,” Daubney said.
“He did well to win a bronze last October at last year’s Commonwealth senior, junior and youth championships in Pune, India.
“But if results from his Pacific Games gold medal win and topping the Australian International Open are any indication, I have no doubt this young man will produce great results.”
“Both the 2015 Commonwealth senior, junior and youth championships and the 2015 World Championships have been stepping stones to achieving bigger dreams this year.”
Alongside Baru in Fiji are two other hopefuls and Pacific Games gold medallist, Thelma Toua and Fred Oala, who are hoping to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
Following a successful bid during the Australian International Open in March this year, where he finished on top by lifting a total of 291kg (snatch 126kg and clean and jerk 165kg), Baru is currently ranked 10th in the world, in the 62kg category, making him a champion in Oceania.
This year, Baru signed up to be an ambassador of PNG’s number one rice distributor.
Earning a gold medal today means a K5000 reward from Trukai, as part of the company’s incentive, similar to last year’s incentive during the Pacific Games.
Another K50,000 is up for grabs if he goes as far as Rio and strikes gold.
“As a major sponsor of the PNG Weightlifting Federation, Trukai would like to wish all our three lifters the best during the Oceania Championship in Fiji, this week,” Daubney said.
“We are proud to be associated with athletes, who are good brand ambassadors, and an elite sport that’s putting PNG on the map.”