Duma opens K300,000 gym

By ELIAS LARI
MT Hagen MP William Duma has funded a fully-equipped new gym at a cost of more than K300,000 for the Dog Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association.
It will help lifters and bodybuilders improve their skills, fitness and physiques.
Duma opened the gym at Palmanda village outside Mt Hagen on Thursday.
Association chairman Amos Wak said the aim was to promote power and weightlifting and bodybuilding in Western Highlands.
Wak won gold in 1997 in the 67.5kg division during the South Pacific Mini Games in American Samoa.
Wak said since the gym at YMCA in Mt Hagen had closed in the 1990s, he started the sport at his Palmanda village to train others.
Some have made their way up to represent the province and the country in weightlifting and powerlifting.
He said in 2016, Duma stepped in to assist the gym with training equipment.
Gym manager Simon Roynu said apart from powerlifting and weightlifting and bodybuilding, they would also introduce kickboxing.
He thanked Duma for the assistance.
“This gym is for everyone to benefit to do physical fitness and those interested must become members first,” Roynu said.
“This gym is also open to rugby league players.”
Roynu also thanked the management of Wapa Security Services for signing a contract with the association where the guards will be doing regular exercise.
Duma said supporting sports was part of serving his people.
He said discipline was the key to development and it could be achieved through sports.
Duma said there were many sports which needed support.
“Sports involve men and women, this is why I see that there is a need for funding,” he said.
Duma said many unfortunate people were making a name for themselves through sports.
“I started supporting sports when I was not a MP yet because I saw the need for assistance,” he said.
“I thank Wak for taking the initiative to promote sports at the village level.”
which will help many to benefit.”