Trio inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

CHAMPION boxer Kenneth Hopkins, swimmer Charles Martin and all round talent Kea Kapulu Swarz are the latest sporting icons to be inducted into the Papua New Guinea Sports Hall of Fame.
The ceremony held at the Paradise Cinemas in Port Moresby on Thursday, was full of emotions and celebration of the life and achievements of these champions.
Now based in Australia, all three represented Papua New Guinea in the 1960s and ‘70s when the country was a territory of Australia.
Hopkins was a dominant boxer in that era while based in Bialla, West New Britain with his family.
“I did it because I loved it and I was proud to represent my country, and to be recognised for my achievements and be inducted into the Hall of Fame is phenomenal and I will never forget this,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins made history by winning PNG’s first medal at an international sporting event.
He won a bronze medal at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games which was held in Perth, Australia in 1962.
“When you’re going to fight, you’re going there to win otherwise you’re in the wrong business.
“You have to give it your very best all the time, if you lose at least you know that you did your very, very best,” he said.
Hopkins was also a member of the PNG team to the first South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, in 1963.
Hopkins also won a bronze medal at those Games.
Swarz competed in three sports and dominated in all of them — netball, athletics and softball.
She was in the same PNG team as Hopkins to the Suva Games in 1963 where she competed in netball and athletics.
Her netball team won the sport’s first South Pacific Games medal for PNG, a bronze, during those Games.
“Thank you for recognising us,” Swarz said.
“I am very happy to be among those inducted tonight and I would like to see women taking part in more sports.”
Martin joined Hopkins and Swarz in thanking the PNG Olympic Committee and the country for the recognition, saying that it was an honour to represent PNG and to be back to receive the commendations.
“I’ve been away from my country for 43 years and it’s just good to be back,” said an emotional Martin.
Sports Vice-Minister Wesley Raminai congratulated the inductees and also thanked them for their service and contribution to sport.
He said their achievements and triumphs were an inspiration that contributed to the unification and development of a new nation.
“Great moments are made by great people, these are the moments that shape our history and change our lives.
“The history of PNG is full of such people.
“While their achievements will be recalled for many generations to come, it is their triumph over adversity to achieve their goals that we must also recognise and appreciate,” Raminai said.
The three inductees join 11 others in the PNG Sports Hall of Fame which include former sprinter Sir John Kaputin and high jumper Edward Laboran.