Coach Mea hopeful

PNG will be sending a six-man contingent to participate at the 2009 senior and junior Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Penang, Malaysia, from Oct 18-23.
The team includes three female and three male athletes competing in various categories.
In the women’s category, Kathlene Hare will be competing in the senior (48kg division) while Rita Kari will contest the junior (58kg division) and Guba Hale will do battle in the 63kg division.
In the men’s category, 16-year-old Steven Kari will compete in the 62kg category, Moses Wak will do battle in the senior (56kg division) and Morea Baru will contest the senior (69kg division).
Trukai Industries Limited stepped in once again with a K55,000 sponsorship yesterday to make their trip possible. 
The PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee secretary Sir John Dawanicura said Trukai Industries Ltd had supported the PNGSFOC for the past 10 years.
He said the sponsorship would go towards meeting the travelling expenses of the team to  Malaysia.
Trukai Industries has been supporting weightlifting and bodybuilding every year with K40,000 each and funding for this trip was made possible through part of weightlifting monies not fully utilised last year and this year’s allocation.
Sir John is optimistic the athletes would do their best to at least break their personal best in this event because they have already been exposed to Oceania events and other international competition.
Team coach Douglas Mea said he was expecting some miracles from the six weightlifters.
He is hopeful the weightlifters would bring some medals for PNG in the respective events.
The team headed by Mea and team manager Frank Robby, will be leaving today.
Trukai’s brand manager Mea Willie said Trukai Industries was proud to support weightlifting in PNG.