Team PNG

It boasts a strong team for the 11th Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas.

“We have brought over a very strong contingent made up of our elite athletes from back home in PNG, the United States and Australia.
“Since our arrival last Sunday, our teams have gone straight into training,” said Team PNG Chef de Mission, Kila Dick.

He said Team PNG is adamant in getting the finer details right and have kept their fitness and focus.

The Pacific Mini Games will be hosting nine sports, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Triathlon, Va’a and Weightlifting. Saipan, Tinian and Rota will host the various competitions at different sporting venues.  Papua New Guinea will be participating in five - Athletics, Golf, Tennis, Va’a and Weightlifting. Beach Volleyball and Triathlon were not endorsed due to non-compliance of set requirements. Baseball and Badminton National Federation opted not to participate in the Pacific Mini Games due to their teams’ readiness.

Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) President Sir John Dawanincura said the flag bearer reveal is an important role and ceremony in the lead up to the opening ceremony.

“Ailima’s outstanding leadership has been key to the vaá women’s success,” Sir John said.

“Ailima was part of the women’s team to the 2013 Mini Pacific Games that won three silver medals, the 2015 Pacific Games V12 team that shocked champions Tahiti for the Gold and in 2019 added another silver and a bronze for their treasure trove.

Concerns due to COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the General Management Team to opt against a formal farewell reception.

The team is taking a contingent of 119 made up of 85 athletes and 34 officials including the General Management Team.

Team PNG will take part in five sports from the nine on offer and are expected to perform very strongly at this event.

Team Athletics makes up the bulk of the contingent with 37 athletes and seven team officials, followed by Va’a with 27 athletes and four team officials.

The team of 24 male and 14 female athletes will head to Saipan in three groups this weekend from Port Moresby, Brisbane and Los Angeles.

Thirteen US-based athletes and coach, Nelson Stone will fly to Saipan via Honolulu and Guam, with some stopping over in Los Angeles this weekend for a final lead up competition.

In presenting the rice donation, TIL chief executive officer, Alan Preston, said Trukai has been a great partner of Team PNG and the PNG Olympic Committee for the past 23 years, and was happy to support Team PNG in both the Pacific Mini Games this month and the Commonwealth Games in July.

Accepting the donation, Chef de Mission to the Pacific Mini Games, Kila Dick, conveyed the team’s gratitude to Trukai for its continued support to Team PNG.

While the Pacific Mini Games will be hosting nine sports, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Triathlon, Va’a and Weightlifting, PNG will only participate in five.  

The five sports endorsed by the Justification Committee are Athletics, Golf, Tennis, Va’a and Weightlifting.

Beach Volleyball and Triathlon were not endorsed and will miss out due to non-compliance with the requirements. Baseball and Badminton National Federation opted not to participate in the Pacific Mini Games due to their team’s readiness.

Whilst the Cloud County based athletes in Kansas had a relatively quiet weekend ahead of their regional championships this coming weekend, jumpers Roland Hure and Annie Topal both posted excellent performances.

Competing at an Open Meet in Indianola, Iowa, Hure jumped a personal best of 7.25m in the long jump; which is just one centimetre outside the national record set by Peniel Richard last year.

He also ran an impressive 10.77secs in the 100m, signaling to the PNG team coaches that he wants to be considered for the 4*100m relay at the Games.

Competing on their home track in the city of Concordia the athletes continued their excellent recent form with Leroy Kamau again leading the way and with Isila Apkup and Shadrick Tansi also posting great performances.

Kamau followed up a wind assisted 10.36 sec clocking in the 100m (+4.7) with a sensational 20.85seconds in the 200m. The following wind (measured at 3.3metres per second) meant that this cannot be recognised as a national record but it is once again as sign that Kamau is heading for something special in the near future.