Central maintain lead on medal tally

MOROBE made a steady climb on the medal tally with four gold medals in various sports on Day 9 of the 2017 PNG Games in Kimbe yesterday.
The defending PNG Games title holders won four gold medals in 4x400m, long jump, para powerlifting.
They are closely followed by ENB with three gold medals, while Chimbu and WNB won two gold medals each yesterday.
However, Central still hold the number one spot on tally with 35 gold medals and followed by NCD on 20 and Morobe third with 18.
Interestingly, West Sepik won their first gold medal of the Games in shot put (men) while Southern Highlands erased their bad publicity stunt to pick up two gold medals in rugby 7s and women’s basketball.
PNG Games sports director John Susuve said the track and field events (athletics) attracted a full house every day since the events started last Saturday.
“The Sasi Muthuvel Stadium is packed to capacity every day which shows the support by WNB populace to the PNG Games. It is their Games and they want to show the world and PNG that the people of West New Britain are fanatic about their sport,” he said.
With the games going to the last three days of competition, the competition is going to be exciting and challenging with positions bound to change in regard to gold medals.
Susuve said interestingly smaller centres like Gulf, SHP and West Sepik were coming with the greatest surprises of the tournament.
Unofficially Team Gulf picked up two gold medals in karate last night and Team Sandaun won their first gold medal in javelin. Team Southern Highlands want to erase the bad-boy image by winning gold medal in women’s basketball and women’s rugby.
Team Southern Highlands’ Paul Yakira is optimistic that “the bad publicity” will soon go under carpet as the team was slowly picking up.
He expects more goal medals in kickboxing which was underway last night.
The surprise package of the 400m final in athletics, Isila Apkup of East Sepik won the first gold medal for the province after powering home to beat Nancy Malamut of ENB (silver) and Lilly Pewa of Madang (bronze).
Susuve said that all was looking good in the finals days of competition.