Pulsan now a ref, keen to keep lifting

By JACK AMI
TOP Papua New Guinea powerlifter Linda Pulsan is now an accredited Oceania referee.
The veteran told The National at the Jackson Airport on her return from the Gold Coast, Queensland, where she competed at the Oceania Championships, that she was proud to have passed the theory and practical tests to earn certification as a referee from PNG.
“I’m proud I passed the exam and got accredited,” the 47-year-old said. “It’s another achievement for me in my time as a power lifter.”
Pulsan said she would still compete but now had the qualification to transition into refereeing.
“I’m 47 but still have a lot of strength left in me and retirement is not on my mind yet and I’ll still keep on going and call it the day when the time is right.
“For now, I’ll concentrate on the lead up competitions here and overseas and look forward to the Asia Pacific Championships in March,” Pulsan said.
“We have the Pacific Games that our lifters are looking forward to and with the current results from the championships in the Gold Coast is a morale booster for us.
“We have a lot of youngsters in powerlifting and one clear one is Lucy Konio Naime who won a gold medal in the 47kg division.
“She’s just 14-years-old, she’s something. That girl has set a benchmark for youngsters coming through. I encouraged her to concentrate, be disciplined and commit herself if she wants to be one of the top female lifters in our sport.
“If she can do this her future is very promising.
“Our success was possible through our major sponsor KK Kingston and chief executive Michael Kingston whose leadership and management has brought in a lot of professionalism and confidence in the team. Pulsan said without the support from KK Kingston and other minor sponsors we should not have been able to attend the championship.
PNG Powerlifting Federation president Michael Kingston commended Pulsan for her achievement as the first local woman to be accredited as an international and Oceania referee.