Taekwando wins gold in team event

Normal, Sports
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The National – Monday, September 12th 2011

THE PNG taekwondo team picked up one gold medal in the women’s team event beating Tahiti in the final.
Led by 2008 PNG Olympian, Theresa Tona, the three-member team upset tournament favourite Tahiti which include Anne Graffa, Poenaki Roche, Raihu Tauotaha and Audrey Vognn.
The men’s team collected a bronze medal through Alfred Daera who lost to Reynold Chan (gold) and Emerick Dubois (silver)
The most improved fighter during the Games was Essau Hemmison in the men’s 68kg division.
He said it was a great feeling to win a medal at the Pacific Games but he had also learned a lot of things.
“When 2015 comes, they can all look out because I will be ready for them,” he said.
“It’s a great experience for those of us who have not been in an international tournament like this.
Coach Edward Kassman said he was satisfied with the results given that a lot of his fighters lacked international exposure to prepare for such high level tournaments.
Almost all of his players did take part in any international tournaments so the other countries had that advantage and experience in the sport.
The last time taekwando was included in international tournament was in 2003.
Kassman said Hemmison won via knock-out in his first two fights but missed out on the gold medal.
He fought for the bronze medal after losing the semi-final.
“The competition was tough for the PNG fighters because most of the New Caledonia and Tahiti fighters had the advantage of having competed at many international tournaments,” Kassman said.
Tona was the only member of the team who had previously fought at an overseas tournament.