Toua, Baru okay for Olympics

DIKA Toua and Morea Baru will compete at the Tokyo Olympics in July despite a setback in the Oceania regional qualifiers says Papua New Guinea weightlifting coach Paul Coffa.
Coffa said the recent cancellation of the Oceania qualifiers did not affect Toua and Baru as they had already earned spots in their respective weight classes through the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) continental points system.
The continental points qualification method sees both Baru (men’s 61kg) and Toua (women’s 49kg) as the highest ranked athletes in their weight classes from Oceania earning the pair a spot each.
“Toua and Baru have reached their criteria in their bodyweight categories,” he told The National.
“They will be at the Olympic Games from a continental qualification stand point and there is no question on this.”
Coffa added that the chances of other Papua New Guinean weightlifters qualifying was unlikely with the qualifying criteria set high for the Olympics.
“The decision with regards to qualification criteria is in the hands of the IWF and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“I am sure that this will be addressed very soon and a decision will be handed down but there will be no other lifters from PNG who can qualify or reach any standards.”
Following the ongoing threat of Covid-19, the IWF and the IOC reached a decision to cancel the Oceania qualifiers scheduled for April this year with the majority of the countries facing strict measures on international travel.
The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee said they would be closely monitoring the situation on international travel and continue their assistance to the weightlifting team in preparation for the Olympics.