Katoa ready to rumble

 By HENRY MORABANG
BOXER Thadius Katoa, pictured, says he will make every post a winner during the week-long Oceania-Asia Olympic qualifier tournament in China this week.
The Papua New Guinea 60kg champion left on Sunday with coach Joe Aufa after securing two sparring sessions with the Oceania-Asia boxing camp underway in China.
Though he will not take part in the qualifying tournament in China as he was given a nod to take part at the Olympics on a wildcard entry, the soft-spoken 19-year-old Cateret Islander from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, said he would do everything to stay in shape before travelling to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Both Katoa and coach Aufa will return on July 24 before Team PNG depart for the Olympics’ official opening on August 6.
Other sports including athletics, weightlifting, taekwondo, judo and swimming are also sending their athletes to the Games.
Athletics have confirmed Toea Wisil and Theo Piniau while swimmer Ryan Pini is the lone swimmer.
Weightlifting has Morea Baru while taekwando has Samantha Kassman and Maxemillion Kassman.
Raymond Ovinou qualified for his second Olympic Games in judo.
The head of delegation is Emma Waiwai.
The PNG Olympic Committee has earmarked K700,000 for Team PNG for the Olympic Games.
With two major fundraising events — the Trukai Fun Run and Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenge — the committee secured enough funds to cover the costs of the team’s participation.