Lifters prepare for Pacific Games

THE PNG interim committee has been assessing the wightlifting squad members during a training session at the Royal Papua Yacht Club last Saturday to see how they prepare for the Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.
An interim committee member, Fiona Speedy said since their appointment in April, the committee had not had the chance to get together with the athletes.
She said it was also an opportunity to gauge their  performance.
The training squad: Fred Oala lifted 168kg in the 56kg division, Morea Baru managed 237kg in the 62kg division to become the best senior lifter and Toua Udia lifted 240kg in 69kg to win best junior award, while Grox Soho lifted 195kg in the 77kg division.
National coach Douglas Mea, Riku Miria and interim committee technical advisor Frank Robby officiated during the sessions.
The committee had also invited lifters from the Taurama Leisure Centre club to participate in the sessions. It  took four hours for 17 lifters to complete their lifts.
Robby said there would be a similar training session in three weeks but urged them to keep in shape.
He thanked the yacht club general manager Tim West and his committee for their support over the years and the use of the facilities at the gymnasium.
The committee is expected to name final team shortly to go into camp in the lead-up to the Pacific Games.
Speedy said the committee also acknowledged the official sponsor of the PNG Weightlifting Federation, Trukai Industries, for their ongoing financial support over the past 15 years, including the K40,000 sponsorship for the weightlifting team to participate at the Oceania Weightlifting championships in Darwin.
The championships were important for athletes to justify their selections to represent PNG in Noumea.
In the 48kg, Kathleen Hare managed to lift 135kg edging reigning champion Dika Toua who lifted only 120kg.
The best junior was Hitolo Dogodo who lifted 143kg in the 53kg division ahead of her training partner Gloria Kimbu (134kg).
Mona-Liza Kassman lifted 140kg in the 58kg division while Sandro Ako lifted140kg and  Guba Hale managed 155kg in the 69kg division.
Lorraine Harry lifted 130kg to become the best youth lifter in the 75kg category.