Kari eyes Tokyo

Sports
Commonwealth, Pacific Games gold medallist aiming for Olympic spot

WHILE residents around the country are gearing up for the festive season, Commonwealth and Pacific Games gold medallist Steven Kari is busy preparing to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Chef de mission Tamzin Wardley said in a statement that the Commonwealth record holder (in the 94kg division) would compete in his third qualifier during the festive period in Tianjin, China.
The 26-year-old is vying to secure a second appearance at the Games, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from July 24 to Aug 9. The Hanuabada man was the youngest member of the team to the Olympics in London, England, where he finished 15th in the 85kg division.
Wardley said the country’s top-two laser sailors Teariki Numa and Rose Lee Numa had been granted places to compete at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia, in the New Year.
Meanwhile, Team Papua New Guinea’s attempts to qualify for the Games have had mixed results so far this month.
Marie Keneke competed in the 78-plus kg category at the Oceania Judo Open Championships in Perth, Australia, from Nov 3-4.
She fought Russian athlete Kseniia Chibisora, ranked 14th in the world, in Pool D.
Keneke lost the bout but did enough to earn a qualification spot in the continental quota system.
She now has to hold onto that spot until the ranking system closes at the end of May to seal her spot at the Olympics.
Judo coach Patrick Mahon is confident that she can retain her qualification spot but to do this, she must continue to participate in ranking events.
The national rugby sevens men and women’s teams competed in the Oceania qualifiers in Suva two weeks ago.
The women’s team (Palais) finished fourth after losing to New Zealand in the bronze playoff.
But their result qualified the team for the final repechage event in Biarritz, France, in June.
The men’s team finished fifth and did not qualify for the repechage event.
Shooter Danny Wanma competed at the Oceania Championships in the men’s trap event in Sydney, Australia, and was unable to make the required qualifying score.
Wanma has two more opportunities next year to obtain the required score.  The two qualifying events are the Shotgun World Cup in Cyprus and the Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup in India.
PNG No.1 Abigail Tere-Apisah has resumed her campaign on the tennis pro-circuit following a well-earned rest after her medal-winning performances at the Samoa Pacific Games.
She competed in her first tournament in Thailand, playing through to the main rounds before being knocked out.
Tere-Apisah now turns her attention towards the Australian Open Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff in Zhuhai, China.
The winner of the Dec 3-8 tournament will receive a wildcard entry into the main draw of next year’s Australia Open.