Be realistic, says Green

PAPUA New Guineans should be realistic with their expectations of their sportsmen and women currently taking part at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
PNG Athletics Union president Tony Green said the athletes could not come from nowhere to win medals at the Pacific Games.
He was commenting when two of PNG top women runners advanced to the semi-finals of their respective events.
Toea Wisil progressed to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m last night with a fine run to finish second in her heat in 11.66.
Green said progressing to the finals was a possibility for Wisil but she would need to improve on her personal best of 11.50 to make the cut.
Another woman runner, Betty Burua also progressed to the semi-finals in the women’s 400m with a time of 54.90.
In the men’s 100m event, Ruwan Gunasinghe ran a personal best of 10.88 and Kupun Wisil clocked 10.95.
“We cannot expect athletes to come from nowhere every four years and win gold medals at the Pacific Games. The athletes must have a continuing programme and the Commonwealth Games is part of our overall plan to develop a strong squad for Noumea, New Caledonia next year.
Middle distance runner Salome Dell clocked 4:33.23 in 1500m last night to finish eighth overall.