Toua, Baru to receive cash incentives for medal-haul in Pacific Mini Games

NATIONAL weightlifters Dika Toua and Morea Baru will receive cash incentives from their major sponsor, Trukai Industries Limited, for winning three gold each in the recent Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games.
Trukai marketing manager Maryanne Tom made the announcement when congratulating the two athletes in Port Moresby yesterday.
Toua and Baru bagged three gold each in the 49kg and 61kg divisions respectively in Saipan.
Tom said Trukai celebrated their achievements and that the company would continue to sponsor weightlifting in the country.
“Their ongoing successes are the drive behind the advancement of weightlifting in the country,” she said.
“Trukai has supported the sport for more than 23 years.
“As part of our athlete incentive programme, Dika and Morea will be paid cash for their medals.
“The programme was created in 2014 as a way to motivate our teams to perform to their best abilities in international competitions. For different tournaments, there’s an incentive in Kina value to individuals based on their results.
“We only award gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
“For Dika and Morea, we won’t disclose the exact amount we are giving because we respect their privacy.
“We wish them well for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, and we hope to pay them more incentives if they can win some medals.”
Veteran Toua acknowledged Trukai as a long-term supporter of weightlifting.
“I have been in weightlifting for more than 20 years,” she said.
“I can remember that Trukai was already supporting weightlifting when I took up the sport as a teenager.
“Without the company’s support, we wouldn’t have come this far.
“We really appreciate Trukai’s ongoing support,” Toua said ahead of her departure for Australia.