Home team flexes its muscles

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

TEAM PNG bodybuilding manager Imbak Wiape believes his team’s performance yesterday was by far the best at the Pacific Games level after they scooped five gold, two silver and two bronze medals to top the medal tally.

Wiape said they were glad for achieving their target to surpass the previous Pacific Games achievement of three gold, four silver and two bronze medals. 

He said bodybuilding set another benchmark yesterday and they would ensure that in four years time they go a step higher. 

Yesterday’s competition saw PNG’s only gold medal winner of the 2011 Noumea Games, Jack Viyufa coming strongly against five contenders in the under-75kg category to defend his title. Female bodybuilders  Pau Moses (bronze  under-55kg), Pascal Sabin (silver over-90kg) and Selan Jim (gold over-65kg) had a good outing.

Donald Kaiwi settled for bronze.

“We would like to maintain this performance so that every time we go a step further,” Wiape said.

Ursula Martin of American Samoa won the overall female bodybuilder award while Tongan Trevor Huni took out the men’s category.

PNG winners: 

Gold – Mark Donald (U65kg), Selan Jim (over-65kg), Jack Viyufa (U75kg), Wilfred Korua (U85kg), Steve Bomal (U80kg); 

Silver – Misa Avefa (over-55kg), Pascal Sabin (over 90 kg); 

Bronze – (Donald Kaiwi U90 kg), Pau Moses (U55 kg)