Toua, Baru tipped

The National Sports

By PARKER TAMBUA
PAPUA New Guinea Weightlifting Federation president Sir John Dawanicura is confident that Morea Baru and Dika Toua will qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
He told The National it was a “long shot” for Commonwealth champion Steven Kari but there was still hope for the Hanuabada native despite trailing Samoa’s Don Opeloge on points after five qualification events.
Sir John said Commonwealth Games silver medalists Baru and Toua were continuing their preparations despite the recent deferral of the Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Olympics will now be held between July 23 and August 8.
He said Toua, who will be competing in her fifth Olympics, and Baru were training under Oceania Weightlifting Federation boss Paul Coffa while in lockdown in Noumea, New Caledonia.
“According to Coffa, they are sure to qualify for the Olympics,” said Sir John, who is also the president of the PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC). They have attended five of the six international events required to qualify, including the world championships.
“For Steven, at this stage, the young Samoan is in line to qualify ahead of him because of the total number of points from five qualification events out of six.
“But because of the cancelation of several qualification events due to the Covid-19, the International Olympic Committee will set new qualification guidelines within two weeks, including a tripartite system for those who have yet to qualify. So there’s still light at the end of the tunnel for him.”
Sir John says Baru and Toua will continue to train under lockdown until the travel ban has been lifted.
“PNGOC is in talks with the PNG Sports Foundation to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Department on what can be done to repatriate Morea and Toua,” he said.
“Our weightlifters have accepted the postponement of the Games and they will look to continue training to maintain their fitness heading towards next year.
“For now, we just have to bring our athletes back home safely to their families. PNG is free of Covid-19, which is good.”