Six depart for China

By JACK AMI
AIR Niugini and the China Table (CCTF) Tennis Federation have stepped in to subsidise travel and accommodation costs for Team Papua New Guinea’s table tennis players.
Through the support, Team PNG players David (24) and Geoffrey Loi (18), David Thomas (20), Gasiga Sepa (25), Leah Taru (24) and Geru Lohia (19) will be able to train at the Shanghai University of Sports for four months in preparation for the Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, in July.
PNG Table Tennis Federation president George Shao accompanied the players to China yesterday.
Shao said it was expensive to travel to China.
“But we were so fortunate that Air Niugini had subsidised the travel costs.
“CTTF will meet the accommodation costs, which is about K250,000 for the six players.
“The high performance training for these elites will set the bar for them to perform.
“We are going to Shanghai to train and prepare for the Pacific Games.
“We want the players to develop and improve their skills so they can compete for medals.”
Shao said the players would train under certified coaches and trainers at the university.
“We had to get the two females on board,” he said.
“Taru is a left-hander and we need her in Team PNG for the Pacific Games.”
Before departing for China, Taru told The National that she was nervous and would be homesick after leaving behind her young family at Hanuabada in Port Moresby.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge while training in Shanghai, which is a different environment compared with PNG.”
The team return to PNG on June 26 before departing for Samoa.