Beach volleyball aims high

PAPUA New Guinea men’s beach volleyball would have been part of Team PNG to this year’s Commonwealth Games if they had beaten Fiji in the qualifiers in Vanuatu last year.
Despite the setback, domestically, beach volleyball has proved its value thanks to the senior men’s pair of Moha Mea and the retired Richard Kilarupa, who won gold in 2015 Pacific Games and the 2017 Mini Pacific Games.
The achievement says it all that beach volleyball in the country has set a benchmark, and challenged the national federation in the country to strengthen its domestic competitions to provide more opportunities.
The results have pushed the PNG Volleyball Federation Corporation under president Kila Dick to organise club championships for beach volleyball to see the code expand not only in the nation’s capital and Central province but inother provinces too.
The dates for these planned championships will be confirmed after the executives meet toomorrow and participation will be open to affiliated associations.
“We plan to organise beach volleyball club championships because we want to make sure that there is equal participation all throughout the country and not only in Port Moresby and Central province,” Dick said.
“We are yet to finalise and confirm the dates and we will have it out soon so that our affiliates are aware
“Last year’s PNG Games was a reflection of what we can do from the provincial level so it’s good to spread the beach volleyball concept right throughout the country.
“The PNG Games last year was a stepping stone for us to see that maximum opportunities are given to all provinces.”