Netball c’ship starts in style

 By KYMLIE KARANI

THE annual National Netball Championships started yesterday at the Rita Flynn Netball Courts in Port Moresby.

With a total of 16 participating netball associations the opening ceremony was held in style with group and traditional dances performed by the Morobe Country Netball Association and the Paradise High school Aroma dance group.

Present during the opening ceremony was Minister for Health Michael Malabag, NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Minister for Sports and 2015 Pacific Games Justin Tkatchenko.

President of the PNG Netball Federation Julienne Leka-Maliaki welcomed all teams as the juniors kicked off with their games.

“This is the first of many good things to come,” Maliai said.

Maliaki further encouraged the players that they all must work hard to get a spot in the national squad.

Tkatchenko praised PNG Netball and host association Motu-Koita West for their efforts in staging the championships.

“It is the time when you use this tournament to show off your province and mainly your talent,” Tkatchenko said.

He also announced the funding of K30,000 towards the staging of the championships which was a contribution by Malabag, Parkop and Tkatchenko.

The junior competition ends on Thursday before the senior competition starts the following day.