Pini prepares for 2010 events

PAPUA New Guinea’s swimming sensation Ryan Pini is raring to dive back into the pool this weekend to compete in the Queensland Age and Open championships.
This is to regain his form for the Commonwealth Games and Oceania titles next year.
Pini will be competing in the event over the weekend together with fellow PNG swimmer, Nathan Ampoi.
Both will compete against other swimmers from around Australia.
PNG Swimming Incorporation president Liz Wells said this in an interview with The National yesterday.
She said that it would be an opportunity for PNG’s two top swimmers to prepare themselves for the bigger events next year.
“This will be a pathway for Ryan and Nathan to improve their qualifying times for the up coming big events next year,” Wells said.
She also emphasised that PNGSI were looking at sending 14 swimmers  in the target  and intermediate squads for the Oceania Championships next June.
But this would depend on funding, if PNG were to send a large contingent for the Oceania Championships in Samoa next year, Wells said.
The president of PNGSI also said this paper that the swimmers were looking forward to training at the Sir Donald Cleland pool starting  next month.
But she would have to seek advice from the PNG Sports Foundation and concerned authorities on the maintenance that has been carried out at the swimming pool.
The Taurama Leisure Centre, as it is known now, has undergone maintanence under new management with the pool and gym facilities upgraded.
She said, currently, the swimmers were using the Ela Murray swimming pool in Gordon, Port Moresby, while the Lae based swimmers had their training sessions at the Coronation International school swimming pool.
The swimmers apart from Pini and Ampoi would have a three-week Christmas break, which started this week, before they return to the pools on Jan 18.
“They’ve been given their personal training programmes for the three week holiday which is aimed at keeping them swimming fit,” she said.
“The swimmers are scheduled to have their own training sessions several times a week which will keep them swimming fit,” Wells added.