Lifters flounder

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

PAPUA New Guinea’s powerlifting prospects at the Pacific Games appear dim as the sport has been without an executive since the beginning of the year.

As a result of that management vacuum powerlifters in Port Moresby are concerned their preparations are in danger of stagnating and even derailing if nothing is done about their plight.

The sport, which won several medals at the last Pacific Games in 2011, and is in contention for another strong showing in July, could struggle to have its best athletes ready for the rigours of competition.

The PNG Olympic Committee is understood to be presiding over the preparations of the lifters since former official Phil Priestly stepped down from the post early last month. A senior lifter who did not want to be named said a national squad had not been named for the Games and the lifters, although training daily at the National High Performance Centre, were doing so under minimal direction from the centre’s staff.

“Those of us lucky enough to be in Port Moresby are training with a tentative programme which was given to us by the PNG Olympic Committee but it’s not enough,” the lifter said.

“We need someone who has the technical expertise and experience in this sport to guide us. Right now we’re basically training at our own pace and to our own understanding.”

He said the powerlifters did not feel like they were part of a group with a goal and direction but were pushing on hoping for a change in fortune.

A powerlifting squad was named last year after the PNG Games and included a number of novice lifters but no firm decisions were made on a final group before Priestly left. 

“We just need the situation addressed as soon as possible. There are young lifters here who are basically teaching themselves and that shouldn’t be the case because we are supposed to be training for the Pacific Games.”

He commended the PNGOC for stepping in and trying to rectify the problem and hoped a solution could be reached in the quickest possible time.

Weightlifting has made the headlines recently but the sport’s little brother is determined to make its presence felt at the Games.

“All the other Pacific Games teams are preparing for the Games and doing well but our sport needs help to get back on track.

“Some of the other sports like weightlifting have the funding and are training very well and even have regular competitions and trials but for powerlifting is in the dark.

“One of the biggest issues we have is that we don’t even know who is in the training squad.

“After the PNG Games last year, we were told that those who won medals would automatically be part of the squad.

“But even then we aren’t sure if what we are doing is enough to make the squad and be competitive at the Games,” he said.

“Lifters from the other provinces haven’t come in yet so that’s another problem because time is running out.”

During the Noumea Games the country’ power lifters won seven gold medals, three silver and three bronze to be one of the best performed sports.  

PNG Olympic Committee official Andrew Lepani said because of some outstanding in-house issues within the powerlifting fraternity it was taking a while to organise the sport and its elite squad but he was confident the situation would be settled by the end of the month when the lifters are scheduled to start their first training camp. 

The PNGOC is expected to make a statement on the matter today.