Pulsan no doubt

 PAPUA New Guinea’s leading powerlifter Linda Pulsan does not enjoy the same accolades her weightlifting compatriots get, but there is no doubting the 44-year-old is the country’s best hopes for gold at the Pacific Games. 

The Manus woman set 18 open and masters Commonwealth and Oceania records at the recent Pacific Invitational in Melbourne and has set her sights on breaking the regional squat record at the World Championships in Finland.

Pulsan took the invitational by storm, finishing on top in the 72kg division with a total of 477.5kg and was voted the best female lifter at the meet from April 10-12. The mother-of-three attempted to set a new open-class world record of 190kg in the squat but failed through a technical fault. 

 The record of 186kg is held by American Kimberly Walford. Pulsan will attempt to break that record when she represents PNG at the International Powerlifting Federation’s World Powerlifting Championships in Salo, Finland, from June 5-14. 

The PNG team to the World Powerlifting Championships will include 2011 Pacific Games gold medallist Livingstone Sikoli (83kg), who will be aiming to defend his gold at this year’s Games, and super heavyweight debutant Vagi “Tuffer Tank” Henry (120kg plus).  Interim president Raymond Hoada said the overall performance by the athletes at the championship was outstanding and showed positive signs for the July 4-18 Games in Port Moresby.