Sandaun puts more focus on exposing raw talents

UNLIKE others, Team Sandaun is focused on exposing its sportsmen and women to higher level of competition and establishing network for further development, an official said.
Provincial sports and youth coordinator who is also the team overseer Eric Sakin told The National last Friday that though other provinces might focus on winning medals, their main focus was to expose the rural athletes to higher level of competition at the national level.
“Most of our athletes are only exposed at provincial or regional level competitions, and this will be an opportunity to expose them to higher level of competition,” Sakin said.
The 220-member team is made up of five officials and 215 athletes. They will be competing in eight different sports which are volleyball, soccer, basketball, boxing, athletics, paralympics, darts and rugby touch.
“We want to tie various sporting codes with their respective federations so they build contacts and strengthen relationships through these ties.
“Winning medals will be a bonus and our hopes for medals are in boxing, paralympics and basketball,” he said.
“Our greatest achievement would be having at least one or two athletes identified by their respective federation for further development,” Sakin said.
Meanwhile, the team is optimistic that the promised assistance will be sorted out and the team will arrive in Port Moresby today.