Morobe kickboxing stages trials for fighters to PNG Games

By LARRY ANDREW
THE Morobe Kickboxing Association recently staged a tournament to select athletes for Team Morobe for the 7th PNG Games in Kimbe, West New Britain.
Team manager Benjamin Basa said the tournament staged at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium were the first trials in the newly installed ring.
Lae was the only association that participated in the trials, with fighters divided into teams Lae Green and Lae Gold.
“We used to do our selection on the cement floors with sticky tape use to outline the shape of a ring.
“This is the first time our trials have been conducted professionally, with proper corner judges and presentation of medals,” Basa said. “In my time we did not use rings and there were no medal presentations in our trials.”
He said the men’s fighters will take part in 11 categories — 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 61kg, 64kg, 71kg, 73kg, 76kg, 80kg, 83kg and 86kg. Women’s fighters will take part in the 54kg, 57kg, 61kg and 64kg.
He said a total of 17 athletes, including four officials — Gabbi Lena (coach), Motts Suam (trainer), Rachael Yeni (assistant team manager) and himself as team manager — would represent the province at the Kimbe Games.
Meanwhile, Basa who is also the vice-president of Lae Kickboxing and Muay Thai Association, told The National that under his leadership they would be branching out to the districts in 2017.
He said his team had visited Huon Gulf, Finschhafen, Markham and Kabwum, and would send senior fighters to start clubs in those districts to ensure that in the next PNG Games, there would be a fair selection, with fighters from the districts.