Swimming, squash, boxing set to begin

The National Sports

 

 


By SULI SULI
VETERAN Madako Suari Jr will lead fellow Team Papua New Guinea squash players Fearnor Siaguru and Amity Alarcos in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

From left: Team PNG Squash representatives Fearnor Siaguru, Madako Suari and Amity Alarcos training with a Fijian squash player.

Suari will begin the country’s squash campaign against Malaysia’s Mohammad Kamal in the men’s singles preliminary round at the University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre today (9.30pm, PNG time).
Siaguru will face New Zealand’s Lwamba Chileshe tomorrow (4.45am) before Alarcos meets England’s Lucy Turmel in the women’s singles preliminary round (9pm).
“They’ve all got their work cut out for them,” head coach Marc Forster.
He said their preparations had gone smoothly.

Boxer John Ume will step into the ring today.

“They’re hitting the ball a little sweeter, a little harder, a little straighter, and their length is good,” Forster said.
“I think it has just been a really good hitting time for them and they’re starting to hit more of their targets. “Since arriving, it has been all good.
“We’ve been putting in two sessions a day and hopefully they can play as well as they can.”
Suari, Siaguru and Alarcos left last Friday for Birmingham where Siaguru and Alarcos will make their Commonwealth Games debuts.
Suari said they were primed to represent PNG following a training camp in Malaysia.
“We’ve been in Malaysia for the last five weeks and returned to PNG prior to travelling for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“Our camp there was a good opportunity for Siaguru and Alarcos to experience a higher level of training and play in a different environment.

Birmingham Commonwealth Games debutant Amity Alarcos will play England’s Lucy Turmel tomorrow (9pm, PNG time).

“Hopefully, the exposure will improve the way they approach their training.
“It was a good lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.
“We had the opportunity to go to Singapore and train with the national players there.
“We look forward to representing PNG and doing our best to make the country proud.”
Reigning Under-19 national squash champion Siaguru said he was keen to share his experience and knowledge of the sport with younger squash players upon his return from the Games.
“I’ve learnt a lot of new things during our training in Malaysia,” he said.

Ryan Maskelyne and Georgia-Leigh Vele are PNG’s only swimmers to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

“I hope I can teach the young kids in PNG with what I’ve learnt.
“I’m nervous but our preparations have been good
“So I’m looking forward to my first match.”
Meanwhile, Team PNG’s boxers will begin their campaign today with John Ume and Charles Keama taking the ring against Malawian and Zambian boxers respectively.
Team PNG’s swimmers Ryan Maskelyne and Georgia-Leigh Vele will also begin competing today.