Four keen for more comps abroad

FOUR upcoming swimmers are eager to continue competing on the world stage after making their international debuts for Papua New Guinea in Singapore last week, according to an official.
The swimmers are 14-year-old Rihannah Makail, 13-year-old Jhnayali Tokome-Garap, 20-year-old Nathaniel Noka and 22-year-old Josh Tarere.
They competed in the Singapore National Swimming Championships which were held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre from Thursday to Sunday.
Members of federations affiliated to the sport’s world governing body, Fina, who met the entry qualification standards and held a valid clearance were invited to compete.
Papua New Guinea Swimming Incorporated (PNGSI) took advantage of this competition and fielded the four swimmers under coach and manager Susan Babao.
“The competition was a great success for our swimmers who were representing PNG for the first time internationally,” she said.
“The championships were held over four days and eight sessions.
“Forty-four swim teams from Singapore and around the world competed with more than 500 competitors from as young as 10 years old.”
Championship results were:

• Makail – 50m breaststroke (39.02 seconds), 100m breaststroke (1:29.67), 200m breaststroke (3:21.05), 50m freestyle (35.75s);
• Tokome-Garap – 50m freestyle (31.33s), 100m freestyle (1:08.19), 200m freestyle (2:36.44), 50m butterfly (34.49s), 50m breaststroke (40.71s), 50m backstroke (37.25s), 200m individual medley 2:59.85;
• Noka – 50m freestyle (25.35s), 100m freestyle (57.29s), 200m freestyle (2:18.37), 50m Butterfly (27.21s), 50m breaststroke (33.98s), 200m individual medley (2:33.25); and,
• Tarere – 50m freestyle (24.90s), 100m freestyle (57.71s), 50m butterfly (28.46s), 50m backstroke (30.71s), 50m breaststroke (34.02s

PNGSI president Liz Wells said the swimmers’ results were pleasing with personal bests being recorded from their times set in the recent Theodist National Championships.
The swimmers ended the Singapore championships satisfied and keen for more competitions at that level.
“The meet proved a great competition on the international stage to help prepare our swimmers for future events such as the Pacific Games,” Well said.
“It gave our swimmers a greater understanding and a taste of what is now needed to plan their race, and that hard work and perseverance in training do pay off.
“It is important that we instil in our young athletes the value of pursuit, commitment to training and competing, that will make sport so meaningful and rewarding as they move forward.
“The friendships they make as they grow in their sport will remain with them forever.
“Thank you, Singapore National Swimming Championships organising committee, for the invitation to attend.”