Medallists rewarded

By ISAAC LIRI
THE Government has lived up to its word about incentives for Team PNG’s medallists at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in April.
Presentation of payments of K200,000 was made through the National Gaming Control Board on Friday in Port Moresby.
Steven Kari received a cheque for K100,000 for winning gold and smashing the Commonwealth Games record by 11kg in the 94kg division, lifting a total of 370kg, while Dika Toua and Morea Baru would get K50,000 each for winning silver in their respective divisions.
Toua and Baru were not available to receive their cheques as they were still in Noumea (New Caledonia) after the Oceania Weightlifting Championships (June 27-30).
The announcement to reward Team PNG medallists was made by Vice-Sports Minister Wesley Raminai prior to the departure of the Team PNG contingent in March.
The three weightlifters, all from the village of Hanuabada (NCD), are the only athletes who qualified for the incentives.
Upon receiving his incentive, Kari said: “I will use the money to extend my family house so we don’t all crowd in the living room,” Kari, 24, said.
“I am a man now so I need my own space as well so I will use this money to help myself and my family.”
In Toua’s case, confirmation determining whether she gets gold for her performance in the women’s 53kg is still pending according to PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) president and PNG Weightlifting (PNGWF) president Sir John Dawanincura.
Toua won silver behind Indian weightlifter Sanjita Khumukcham but post games investigations revealed that the Indian weightlifter was allegedly tested positive in a drug test.
This will possibly see the gold medal taken away from her and awarded to Toua but Sir John told reporters that the results had not been received yet.
Meantime, Sir John said Toua would be rewarded for her silver medal and look at extending the reward once results were verified.
Presenting the money, NGCB chief executive officer Imelda Agon said it was important that the government continued to recognise elite athletes that put the country on the world map.
“People like Steven Kari and the efforts they put into training is massive, they do it out of their own pockets so it’s only fitting that the Government comes in and helps them,” Agon said.
Sir John said PNGOC would continue to look after the welfare of the athletes in partnership with the Government.