Bunge preparing shot put competition in Fiji

By JAMIE HARO
PAPUA New Guinea para-athlete Jerome Bunge is looking to improve his throws in the F57 javelin and shot-put as he prepares for the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championship set for Suva Fiji next month.
The 42-year-old from Yangoru, East Sepik, has been actively involved in the throw events since joining in 2009.
“I joined athletics through the Cheshire Disability Services back in 2009 and quickly took an interest in the sport,” Bunge said.
“Although I didn’t take part in the 2009 PNG Games that was held here in Port Moresby, I kept on training and competed in the 2012 PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain representing Team NCD.
“This helped me built my interest to take be more active in para-athletics.”
Bunge said 2017 was a peak point for him when he made his debut representing PNG under coach Jackie Travetz in the Queensland State Championship and won a bronze medal in the javelin setting a new personal best then.
“I also competed in regional and national athletics championships until last year when I finally got to represent PNG again at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands in both javelin and shot-put in my class,” he said.
“Being given another opportunity to represent PNG at this year’s Oceania Athletics Championship in Fiji. This also means I still have a shot of trying to reach a required target for my events to have a shot a Paralympics, so I will train extra hard to improve on my throwing techniques,” he said. Bunge is currently training in Port Moresby before he travels to Suva next week.