Deaf sprint sensation wins three gold for Team Manus

Normal, Sports
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By HENRY MORABANG

DEAF sprinter Lucyann Siwa Nali is no ordinary athlete in the sport of Paralympics as she won three gold medals for Team Manus in the just-concluded PNG Games in Port Moresby.
The 16-year-old Lorengau girl picked up her first gold medal in javelin (female deaf) before she blitzed the strong field to win both 100m and 200m sprints in deaf category for another two gold medals.
She beat two Madang women Imelda Subam (silver) and Rosella Simoi (bronze) for the gold medal in javelin.
In the 100m sprint deaf open, Nali clocked 15.33s to win goal while Regina Kairi finished second for silver in a time of 15.46s and Morobe’s Stephanie Titus collected bronze in the time of 15.65s.
In the 200m,  the Manus deaf sprinter pipped Betriz Turak (silver) to win gold while Morobe’s Stephanie Titus collected her second bronze in the sprint event.
Head of delegation for Team Manus Joseph Kimat yesterday told The National before boarding the plane for Lorengau that the PNG Games had put things in terms of sports into perspective.
He said the three gold medals won by Nali was a testimony of how committed sportsmen and women of Manus to participate in sports.
“In all our sports, we (the athletes) have committed 100%-plus in whatever sports we took part.
He commended the Paralympics sports for winning six of the seven gold medals for Team Manus.
Kimat, who is the Air Niugini port manager in Manus, said his team management was very happy with the results, and fully back the PNG Games concept which had taken sports to another level.
The games have united PNG through such activity, and he called on national and provincial governments to seriously give what is due to sports.
Kimat, a founding member of Air Niugini FC in Port Moresby and also a referee, said he was happy with what he achieved as a footballer to help lead Team Manus to the games.
In the coming games in East New Britain, Team Manus HOD said they would take part in all sports available on the programme as ENB was much closer to Manus.
According to PNG Games medal tally, Manus finished in 11th spot with won seven golds, six silvers and four bronzes.