Powerlifters get chance to impress selectors

By MELTON PAIS
THE Papua New Guinea Powerlifting Federation ended its two-day National Championship in Port Moresby on Sunday.
Federation president Michael Kingston said the championship was a trial for the national selectors to pick the best lifters to make team PNG for the Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, next year.
“Every year, the federation usually hosts four championship challenges and last weekend’s championship was our fourth and final event for powerlifting in 2018,” Kingston said.
“A total of 40 lifters from Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and the National Capital District competed at the championship.”
He said 15 of the lifters competed at the 2015 Pacific Games.
Kingston, who helped re-ignite powerlifting in the country, was the major sponsor of the event. Others that supported the event were PNG Air and Beast Genetics.
Kingston said: “The challenges we face include the federation not having enough referees, coaches and judges.
“We are silent achievers.
“We do our country proud, but we do not the same recognition as other sports.
“At 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, our powerlifters bagged most of the gold medals for the country.
“Last November, our powerlifters competed at the Oceania Championship in Australia and won more medals for the country.
Kingston said he would be preparing the selected athletes for a tournament on the Gold Coast this month.
“We will try harder next year to bag more medals for the country,” he said.