Boyama leads women

The National Sports

By PATRICIA KEAMO in Honiara
TAEKWONDO returned seven medals in the women’s division for Team Papua New Guinea at the Pacific Games yesterday.
The impressive performance included a gold medal won by youngster Yvette Boyama in the 46kg division.
Boyama, 17, did not disappoint in her first Pacific Games, soaring past Solomon Islands in the semifinal before defeating Fiji’s Tanisha Chand 2-0 to clinch her first gold.
The team also collected five bronze medals in the individual events and one in the team sparring event.
Team manager Grace Illa commended Boyama saying the wins were a huge boost for the sport and national federation but also for Team PNG in general.
She said this boded well for the national federation and would hopefully see more regular competitions domestically.
Illa said the men’s competition which started today would see PNG fighters buoyed by the women’s effort at the National Aquatic Centre.
An emotional Boyama who was draped in the PNG flag when she stood on the podium after receiving the gold said: “this is my pride, this is my country. I am flying the Kumul flag.”
Illa told The National that the taekwondo team were extremely proud of their efforts and contribution to Team PNG’s tota.
“For young Yvette (Boyama), we knew she was going to get that gold and we never doubted her. So when she delivered, we were so happy for her,” said Illa.
“In the first week they were looking at the medal tally every day saying that we will do our best and we if we don’t get gold at least we get the silver or bronze to make the country proud.
“We wanted to make the PNG Olympic Committee proud by at least getting something in return for the investment they’ve put into us.
“I am so proud of them because most of them are new but they performed to our expectation.”
Team PNG Taekwondo Results: Individual medalists – Silver: Yvette Boyama (46kg), Bronze: Rose Tona (49kg), Marae Paschalis (53kg), Fiona Johe (63kg), Patricia Kulinias (73kg), Enila Soma (73kg plus); Team Sparring (Bronze): Boyama, Paschalis, Johe, Soma.