Team PNG celebrate weightlifting victory

 MEMBERS of Team PNG, including PNG Olympic Committee president Sir John Dawanincura, pictured, gave silver medallist Dika Toua a congratulatory welcome to the Glasgow Games Village on Friday night.

Athletes and officials stayed up a bit longer than their set sleeping time of 10pm as they cheered and sang Motuan songs to congratulate Toua on winning the silver in the women’s 53kg division in the Scottish Exihibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.

Team members from other nations who lived nearby, including Trinidad and Tobago, upon hearing the cheers, came and joined in the celebration.

Sir John, PNGOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla, Trukai Industries representative Andrew Daubney and wife Debbie, Noumea-based weightlifting coach Paul Coffa and wife were present for the occasion. 

Sir John congratulated Toua and encouraged those yet to compete to take heart from Toua’s effort.

He said Team PNG were a family and should progress as such to the end of the Games.

General manager John Susve agreed with Sir John, saying it was an emotional moment in the camp and a booster for athletes who had yet to compete to give their best in their events.

Earlier in the afternoon, upon hearing of Toua’s achievement, team members of sports wrote congratulatory messages and stuck them on the walls of the Team PNG office in the Games Village, in Dalmarnock.