Kickboxers throughout the country have a big year ahead with an international event and four national events lined up including the Papua New Guinea Games.
The year will kick off with the Kickboxing Peter O’Neill Cup scheduled for the 6-8th of May at Pangia District in the Southern Highlands Province.
Kickboxing clubs in the New Guinea Islands Region will also be preparing their fighters for the regional kickboxing championships to be hosted in Kokopo, East New Britain from June 24-26.
Kickboxers in the Highlands and Momase Regions will also get a chance to display their talent at the 2016 Kickboxing Highlands and Momase Classics which will be staged in Lae, Morobe Province from 26-28 August.
From these tournaments, a final squad will be finalised to represent PNG at the World Unified Championships in Italy from 25-30 October.
The year will end with the PNG Games held during 16-30 November at Kimbe, West New Britain.
PNGKF president Stanley Nandex said they’re looking forward to these national events so they can select a team for the World Championships.
The federation noted previously that the size of the team will depend on funding.
The championships will attract more than 105 countries including 12 martial arts and kickboxing bodies to compete in this event.
He said in addition, every province will host its own minor events as part of the development of the sport and talent identification process.