Netball championships begin

By ZACHERY PER
THE Newcrest National Netball Championships got underway at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, yesterday.
The tournament was opened by Newcrest Mining representative Francis Sabadi.
Sabadi said Newcrest Mining had a three-year contract to sponsor the championships with the Goroka tournament being the second.
Lae hosted the championships last year.
He said the company was happy to give back something back to the community by sponsoring the championships.
“The company feels obliged to give back to the people in the community by sponsoring the championships,” Sabadi said.
Tournament director Helen Havora said: “These championships are vital because we will use the tournament to select a national Under-21 squad for the World Youth Cup qualifiers next year,” Havora told The National.
She thanked naming-rights sponsor Newcrest Mining Limited, Goroka Netball Association, National Sports Institute and participating associations for their support.
The participating associations are Goroka, Lae, Abau, Motu-Koita West, Rigo, Kairuku Hiri, Madang, West New Britain, East New Britain, Alotau and Port Moresby.