Power-lifting makes comeback in Highlands

 PREPARATIONS are well underway for the forthcoming PNG Power-lifting National Championship to be hosted by Goroka in the Eastern Highlands.

The Championship, to be held on June 15-16 at the Y.C. Hall in Goroka, will revive the code’s annual event which has not been held for the past 15 years.

PNG Power-lifting Federation vice-president Paul Enuki said the championship would be the first for the Highlands region.

He also thanked the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (PNGSFOC) secretary-general Auvita Rapilla and her executives for facilitating the PNG Power-lifting annual general meeting in Kokopo last year.

The current executives were also elected into office for a three-year term and voted for Goroka to be the venue for this year’s championship.

Enuki said due to the failure of past executives, there had not been any championship.

“This has resulted in a decline of interest shown by power-lifters throughout the country, but I’m confident the current executives will bring the code back to its glory days” he said.

“The staging of the championship in Goroka has already brought on huge interest in the Highlands region,” Enukis said.

Enuki said a squad would be selected during the championship to represent the country at the Oceania power-lifting tournament slated for December 4-8 in Auckland, New Zealand.

“The event will be used to identify talents and select a training squad for the future,” he said.

Enuki urged all centres taking part to send their best lifters as it would be a bonus for them to represent the country.

Centres wishing to take part should contact Enuki on Digicel 73406474 or B-Mobile 76807547 or John Hou at the National Sports Institute office in Goroka.