Firm believers in sports

THE National Gaming Control Board (NGCB), to fulfill social obligations, dished out K60,000 to aid former PNG bodybuilding champion Donald Kaiwi and the U19 Junior Pukpuks last Thursday.
NGCB chief executive officer Simon Sanagke presented K20,000 to Kaiwi for his trip to the Mr Universe Challenge and K40,000 to PNGRFU president Richard Sapias for the U19 PNG Pukpuks to participate at the World Trophy challenge in Los Angeles, US next year.
Sanagke said as a Government statutory body, NGCB strongly believed in promoting PNG sportsmen and women.
“Sports promotes healthy living, and people with healthy mind perform well in whatever they do for the betterment of the country. Also for law and order, sports can be the uniting factor for PNG,” he said.
Sanagke said Kaiwi was an excellent sports ambassador at the world stage and the donation was to support him and send him back to take part in one of the world’s premier bodybuilding event Mr Universe.
Sanagke said NGCB strongly believed in the development of sports and that was the reason they had supported the U19 team who performed exceptionally well to qualify for the World Trophy challenge.
Kaiwi thanked Sanagke for having the confidence in him to compete at the Mr Universe challenge next month in London, United Kingdom.
This would be his second trip to the world title after attending in 1998 where he bowed out in the semi finals.
“Attending such world class premier event such as the Mr Universe is challenging and only those who have the money can do so.”
He said the NGCB’s contribution would go towards his return airfares while part of the money would go towards his dietary supplements.
“For the Mr Universe title, one must eat and train well in preparation for the world championships,” Kaiwi said.
The former Mr PNG said the sponsorship would greatly boost his preparations and was grateful to NGCB for the timely assistance.
Sapias, who also attended the dual presentation, thanked Sanagke for the support as the team would be preparing for the upcoming U19 World Junior Trophy.
PNG qualified for the International Rugby Board-sanctioned tournament after defeating Vanuatu 41-3 at the Oceania U19 Rugby championships in Apia, Samoa.
PNG previously beat Vanuatu 84-0 to secure their maiden appearance in Kenya this year, where they finished 6th overall.