No regrets at code change for Luke

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Friday July 10th, 2015

 FORMER weightlifter Margaret Luke has not regretted switching to touch football.

And she is relishing the experience of taking part in the Pacific Games on home soil.

The 29-year-old from Chimbu won silver in weightlifting during the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa.

After she got married, she decided to switch to touch football.

“After the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa when I got silver, I left weightlifting and have been out of weightlifting for six or seven years now,” she said.

“As a sportswoman, I wanted to keep myself fit.”

Her Papua New Guinea team recently won gold in touch football.

“The gold medal win is a bonus for me,” she said.

“I started to play touch in 2011 and have learnt a lot of things in this sport.

“Our lead-up to this Pacific Games gave us a good foundation to where we are now and I am grateful for that. 

“I know my team mates feel the same way. It wasn’t easy to come this far. We committed ourselves, we made sacrifices and these results are the fruit of what we planted.”

She commended the Government and  the PNG Olympic Committee for doing everything possible to shape a class team.  “In the past we never had such things like the High Performance Centre. 

“We never tested ourselves with other teams internationally.

“But now training has gone to a whole new level and as a sportswoman I am happy for that.”

Winning the gold medal was extra special for her as her two children were at the Bisini Sports Complex on Tuesday watching her.

Her sons are seven and five. After winning gold,they shared the joy with their mother, shedding tears of joy. 

Luke is now taking part in the mixed open team and hopes to win another gold medal.