Papua New Guinea boxer Tom Boga is aiming for Gold at the Pacific Games which is 9 days away.
Boga is among 12 boxers representing PNG and is the only athlete in the squad who took part in the 2011 Games in New Caledonia.
The 25 year old from Central and Eastern Highlands Province, won bronze in 2011 in the 64kg category but missed out on a medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Since then, he has been training hard for the July Games.
In the lead up in his preparations, Boga won a gold medal at the Queensland Championship late last year.
He said obtaining gold at the championship has boosted his moral to keep pushing hard in training.
At the team’s recent six weeks intensive training camp in the Philippines, Boga trained three times a day, did three times sparring a week and participated in fight events with the local boxers.
“I did well against some Olympians and world champions in the Philippines and I’m confident to win gold at the Games,” he said.
Boga’s uncle inspired him to be a boxer and he trained Boga since he was eight years old, representing PNG at international events by the age of 15.
Boga will lead the PNG Boxing team during the Games and is confident they’ll all win a gold medal each.
“I always cheer my team mates on and I see they’re improving every time during training and their competition level is increasing. I made a promise to myself that I will get that gold,” he said.
The boxing event will kick off on 14-18 July at the Caritas Hall.