Top taekwondo ref gives PNG thumbs up

 A TOP international referee Denzil Ray in a recent visit to Papua New Guinea said that taekwondo had the potential to become number one in the Pacific region.

Ray said PNG athletes had the attributes which included good attitude to become a force in the region if they were given the appropriate help to be nurtured into champions.   

Similar comments were repeated yesterday this time coming from  Minister for Sport, Justin Tkatchenko when he presented K100,000 to the Taekwondo Papua New Guinea Federation (TPNGF).

The funds were from the Government’s Sports Enhancement Programme.

The funds were presented to the TPNGF executives led by TPNGF national coach Edward Kassman who was accompanied by secretary Samantha Kassman, vice president Sylvia Pascoe, assistant national coach Marceline Nima, senior athlete Anton Aitsi and other taekwondo athletes at the Ministers office at the Telikom Rumana office, Waigani.

This funding will assist TPNG acquire equipment that will see them train and prepare at a very higher standard than at present. 

Taekwondo is among one of the individual sport that has a huge potential of winning gold medals at next year’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby. 

Tkatchenko said that he will endeavor to support TPNGF to ensure that PNG lands the most of the 18 Gold that will be on offer on the taekwando programme.