PNGHPS completes testing

PAPUA New Guinea High Performance Sport (PNGHPS) has completed three days of performance testing and screening for Team PNG athletes in preparation for international events, including this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The tests are of international standard and have set a benchmark for Team PNG athletes in boxing, sailing, table tennis, rugby union and weightlifting, among others.
PNGHPS manager Cornelius Papau told The National on Saturday that his office would be submitting the data and results from the tests to the PNG Olympic Committee’s justification committee for deliberation.
“It’s a very important time for athletes to prepare,” he said.
“It’s a really big commitment for us, national federations and head coaches.
“We believe that some Team PNG athletes are in Australia and other countries.
“They are not with us in the country, but it is a huge commitment for them to be mentally and physically fit, and attend training consistently.”
Papau said the justification committee would meet and “then we’ll find out what the next step for Team PNG will be”.
“But our gyms are open,” he said.
“So preparation is underway for them (athletes) to go through strength, power, speed and conditioning (training) with us.
“We’re a number of weeks out from the Olympics, it’s good to have all these athletes coming in for training.
“We believe that the Olympic results will be good.”
Meanwhile, PNGHPS performance manager Armstrong Meli said the testing included psychology, nutrition and physiotherapy.