Vice-Minister congratulates gold medallists

VICE-Minister for Sports Wesley Raminai has congratulated the weightlifters for setting the pace for Team PNG at the 10th Pacific Mini Games.
Raminai, who was in Port Vila to attend a Pacific Sports Ministers meeting, spent Tuesday at the weightlifting venue and was impressed with the performance of the weightlifters.
Thelma Toua, Dika Toua and Morea Baru and Steven Kari all won three gold medals each to help Papua New Guinea open up the first medals offered with a dominating performace.
Raminai was given the privilege to make medal presentations and it was a fitting honour that he had put the gold around Dika Toua’s neck as the young mother showed class to claim three golds in the 52kg division.
Earlier on, her younger sibling Thelma Toua picked up three golds in the 48kg division in the first session of competition. Raminai had to endure the hot conditions in the Epauto Convention Hall and was rewarded by witnessing a classy performance from Baru in the 62kg division winning three more gold medals for Papua New Guinea.
The Hanuabada man smashed a games record in the snatch which was also a new Oceania record.
He missed records for the clean and jerk and total but had done enough to snatch three gold medals.
Raminai had watched the opening ceremony the previous day at the Korman Stadium and was thankful to Vanuatu Youth and Sports Minister Seule Simeon for acknowledging PNG’s assistance to their country during Cyclone Pam in 2015.
The Vice-Minister urged Team PNG to follow the lead set by the weightlifting and continue to excel in their chosen sports during the rest of the games here in Port Vila.