Toua’s makes fans in London

PAPUA New Guinea female weightlifter, Dika Toua, did not expect to have any big fans when she came to London for the Olympic Games.
But she soon realised after competition last Sunday, that there were some young people who really wanted to meet her.
On Monday, she met Deborah Bowles and her children, George, 12, Henry, 9, Isabella Roberts, 8, Alex Roberts, 6 and Sophie Bowles, also 6, from Kent, who are probably her biggest fans in London at this year’s Olympics.
Mrs Bowles said they were watching when Toua competed and were fascinated by Toua’s performance, being smaller in size compared to the other lifters in her division but could lift weights as much as them.

But it was when the announcement came over the system that Dika was the first woman to lift in the Olympics when weightlifting for women was first introduced in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, that made the Bowles family even more eager to meet the “Pocket dynamo” from Papua New Guinea.
“The boys were interested to meet her after they heard that she was the first woman to lift in the Olympics,” Mrs. Bowles said.
She said, her son’s George and Henry also practice weightlifting but Henry is more into it because George plays more rugby, while young Sophie is learning gymnastics.
Mrs. Bowles approached President of the PNG National Olympic Committee and also President of PNG Weightlifting, Sir John Dawanicura after the competition and they arranged a meeting with Toua the next day.
The meeting took place in Westfield, a huge shopping mall located behind the Olympic Park.
It was a great time for the young ones as they finally met their favourite athlete.
They jumped around and talked with Toua and also brought some gifts for her.
“I didn’t expect to have some good supporters like this but it is very nice and it was really nice to meet and know them, they are a nice family.
 “It’s very special and I really appreciate it,” Toua said.
Sir John was also pleased with the kind gesture from the Bowles family and thanked them for their support.
“There were other good lifters there from the other countries but they chose Dika as an inspiration and it’s a very special thing for her and also for us,” he said.
Kent, where the family comes from is about 20 minutes drive from the Olympic Park to the train station and another 11 minutes on the train.
The young family came all that way a day after the competition just so they could meet Toua.
They left with smiles and satisfaction on their faces with a promise to meet her again before the PNG Team returns home.