Door still open for Kari to return

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE door remains open for Commonwealth Games gold medallist Steven Kari to resume training for this year’s Pacific Mini Games and Birmingham Commonwealth Games, says an official.
With three months left before the Mini Games, arrangements have been made for PNG’s two other elite weightlifters, Dika Toua and Morea Baru, to train in Australia.
Papua New Guinea Weightlifting Federation president Sir John Dawanincura told The National that they had encouraged Kari to resume training, but it was the 28-year-old’s decision to make.
Seen as one of PNG’s best medal prospects, Kari was the youngest member of the country’s weightlifting team to the 2012 Olympics in London, England, where he finished 15th in the 85kg division.
“In June last year, I did approach him to say that we had not forgotten him,” Sir John said.
“But the first thing to do is, decide which category he can train and prepare because we’re monitoring his main rival (Siaosi Leusio) from Samoa.
“We have to know what the other countries are doing. They’re watching us and we’re watching them.
“But the bottom line is, it is Steven’s choice whether to return to weightlifting.
“It’s up to him if he wants to resume training and competing.
“The offer is still open and we’ve already encouraged him.
“It’s his decision, so I’ll just leave it at that.”
Sir John said the last time the Hanuabada man competed was in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
“Not much has happened in 2020 and 2021 because of Coronavirus difficulties, including border restrictions,” he said.
“But this year, we have the two Games which would be a great opportunity for him to resume his weightlifting career.”