Ku aims to take on Kompaon

A MADANG-based disable person is gearing up to take on fellow disabled athlete and Paralympic silver medalist Francis Kompaon during the PNG Games in Port Moresby next month.
Twenty-seven year old Banabas Ku from Nomane in Chimbu will represent Madang against the Paralympic champion in the 100 and 200m sprints.
Ku, who had one of his arms amputated, is not new to athletics as he has won two gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the past three PNG games.
Ku will also be competing in the long jump as he  also won gold in that event in the 2004 PNG Grassroots Games in Goroka.
According to trainer and team manager of the Madang disabled team Simon Sire, Ku has improved greatly on his personal best in the 100m of 12.22 sec from this previous record of 13.18 sec.
He said he had confidence in Ku breaking the national record when he takes on fellow disabled athletes next month in Port Moresby.
He said Ku had been training hard and made excellent progress and was expected to run at or near his best time for the 100m.
Meanwhile, Ku said that he respected Kompaon as the world class opponent but was well prepared to take him on.
He said in the 2007 games, he lost to Kompaon (13.14 sec) in the 100m by four hundreths of a second coming second in 13.18 sec and he hoped to give Kompaon a strong challenge next month.
Ku also thanked sponsors Intelink Auto parts, Sigma construction, JK Lim Trading, Goodlife Trading, Jais Aben Resort and others for their help.
Madang will send 15 disabled athletes aiming to better their  2007 effort of seven  gold medals.