PNG Paralympic team land in Tokyo for games

PAPUA New Guinea’s Paralympic team arrived in Tokyo on Sunday via Singapore after leaving Port Moresby on Saturday for the Games in Tokyo, Japan.
The contingent of four — para-athletes Morea Mararos and Nelly Leva, head coach Jacklyn Travetz and chef de mission Susanne Sere — completed their delegation registration and settled in yesterday.
Mararos will be the flag bearer for PNG in the Games opening ceremony today.
“(After the opening ceremony) Leva and Mararos will have a couple of days to train before the athletics competition start on Friday,” Sere said.
“Mararos’ event starts on the Sept 1 and Leva’s will be two days later.
“They will compete in javelin.”
Travetz said their preparations had started in 2017 with the aim to qualify for the Games.
“We’ve had some challenges along the way (with our preparations) but now will make their dreams come true when we participate in the Games,” she said.
“I know we will be going up against the world’s best para-athletes but we prepared for this, so we will give our best performance and make PNG proud.
“We are here to perform to the best of our abilities as well as bring back experience to the rest of the team.”
This is the first time for Mararos and Leva to compete in the Games and the pair are aiming to perform well and return as Paralympians.