World, Oceania records tumble at Port Moresby Games

 TWO world records and a number of Oceania records have been broken at this Pacific Games, according to team PNG chef de mission Richard Kassman.

“In the chef de mission meeting on Monday, we were told that at this Games, two world records have been broken, including a number of Oceania records as well as a host of national titles for many countries — not just PNG,” Kassman told The National yesterday.

“For example in the swimming, 4×100 medal relay, PNG won the silver medal, and two others got the gold and bronze medals. 

“The three broke Games records.” 

Kassman said the depth, level and standard of competition in the Pacific Games was now of a very high standard.

“We had Dika Toua, Steven Kari and Ryan Pini — our Commonwealth gold medallists — as well as other countries like Nauru, Tonga and Fiji, who had people that had competed at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

“New Caledonia, Tahiti and Wallis and Futuna had their athletes in competition in France and Europe. 

“So we need to understand that the level of this specific Games here in the country is really high.

“This is not just about Pacific-level competition — we are in a race against Commonwealth medallists and of course European Championships athletes.”