Weightlifting exec Robby passes on

THE PNG Weightlifting Federation is in mourning after the death of vice-president Frank Robby, pictured, at the Port Moresby General Hospital on Sunday night.
Robby, who held the sports’ executive position since 2010, had been battling the diabetes before finally succumbing over the weekend.
PNGWF secretary Lakani Oala, who spoke on behalf of the code, said the 62-year-old Robby from Tikawi village, Wosera-Gawi, East Sepik, had been a stalwart of the sport having competed and represented the country in weightlifting and powerlifting before transition to becoming a technical official after retirement from competitive lifting in the early 2000s.
“This is a very big loss for PNG weightlifting. Frank was the main man when it came to the technical side of the sport,” Oala said.
“He was vice-president for a long time and he was also the sport’s chief selector and he held the position of vice-president for the Oceania Weightlifting president.”
Oala said Robby was held in high regard by the weightlifting fraternity in the country and the region.
“Frank was an official at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and he was also an official at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 when Steven Kari won his first gold medal. I think he won an SP Award for technical official of the year twice, so he was someone who left a mark on the sport,” Oala said.
Oala said PNGWF president Sir John Dawanincura, who is Apia, Samoa, for a Pacific Games delegates meeting, had been told of Robby’s passing and was expected to make a statement this week.
“We’ve notified our president Sir John Dawanincura and he will make a statement soon. In the meantime, on behalf of the PNG Weightlifting Federation we extend our sympathies to the Robby family in this time.”
Form more information contact Jeffrey Robby on 72278717; Annabel Robby on 71712818 or Valentine Robby on 73282853.