Time running out for Gulf to organise side

By ISAAC LIRI
THERE is uncertainty whether Gulf will participate in the National Athletics Championships this month (Aug 24-26).
Gulf Athletics president Lily Tua said they deferred the provincial championships twice in June and last month due to lack of funding.
Tua said it was vital for them to hold the provincial championships in Malalaua prior to competing at the nationals in Port Moresby in order for them to select their best team.
With the entries for the national championships set for Aug 18, Tua said they were running out of time and it was looking unlikely that the province would have a team at the nationals.
Tua said there was a possibility to host their championships from Aug 17-18 which would clash with the date of entries for the championships.
Tua said she had informed PNG Athletics president Tony Green of their situation.
“We don’t want to bring athletes that will perform poorly in the national championships but then time’s running out for us and it seems that we’ll be affected greatly,” Tua said.
“If worse comes to worse then we’ll just get have to get the names of those who have been training, trial them before we submit their names.
“Funding difficulties for sports such as athletics in Gulf is not new and it’s been an ongoing issue over the years.”