Paralympic team set for Tokyo

PAPUA New Guinea’s Paralympic team are ready to compete in Tokyo, Japan, after completing their second training camp at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
The week-long camp had 19 participants — six para-athletes, five coaches, and eight support staff — involved physiotherapy screenings, performance fitness testing, strength and conditioning sessions, sport-specific technical sessions, and educational sessions on nutrition, mental skills, energy systems, anti-doping, and managing persons with needs.
Physical training, gym, and field sessions were also conducted with PNG’s Pacific sprint champion Toea Wisil providing advice and inspiration to the athletes as well as coaches Jackie Travertz, Peter Pulu, Lakona Gerega, national para-throwing coach Paul Bannister and support staff.
All in all it was a great experience for the athletes who agreed that it was an eye opener for them learning so much in practical and theory lessons, with some of the educational sessions offering great insight into preparations for not only the Paralympic Games but the 2022 Commonwealth Games in 2022, 2023 Pacific Games and other major international events.
Team chef de mission Susanne Sere acknowledged the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its Pacific Sports Partnership Programme, NSI director Janet Gimots and her staff, and High Performance Sport PNG (HPSPNG) staff.
The PNG Paralympic Committee is keen on continuing its partnership with NSI, HPSPNG and everyone who has been supportive of the team.