Morea Baru sets his eyes on Rio

​A new pearl in the Pacific Ocean is about to rise above the sea to create a new wave in the code of weightlifting.

Morea Baru is not a new name in the PNG sports industry, however, this young Hanuabada lad is about to make a bigger name for himself and the country when he takes centre stage tomorrow (today) at the Oceania Championship in Fiji.

Baru has his eyes set on the 2016 Rio Olympics and there is no doubt of his capabilities.

Trukai Industries General Manager-Sales and Marketing, Andrew Daubney, said:

“Baru has been training extremely hard in New Caledonia. I have no doubt that he will make PNG proud when he lifts today. He has done his best to win a bronze last October at the 2015 Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships held at Pune, in India. But if results from his XV Games gold medal win and topping the Australian International Open are any indication, I have no doubt this young man will produce some great results.

Both the 2015 Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships and the 2015 World Championships have been stepping stones to achieving bigger dreams this year.”

Alongside Baru in Fiji are two other hopefuls and PNG’s Pacific Games gold medallist, Thelma Toua and Fred Oala, who are hoping to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Following a successful bid during the Australian International Open in March this year, where he finished on top by lifting a total of 291kg (Snatch 126kg and Clean & Jerk 165kg), Baru currently ranks 10th in the world, in the 62kg category, making him a champion in Oceania.

Just this year, Baru signed up to be an ambassador of PNG’s number one rice distributor.

Earning a gold medal tomorrow (today) means a K5,000 reward from Trukai Industries, as part of the company’s incentive, similar to last year’s incentive during the XV Pacific Games. Another K50,000 is also up for grabs if he goes as far as Rio and strikes gold.

“As a major sponsor of the PNG Weightlifting Federation, Trukai Industries would like to wish all our three lifters the best during the Oceania Championship in Fiji, this week,” said Dubney.

“We are proud to be associated with an elite sport that’s putting PNG on the map and representing Trukai, as positive brand ambassadors,” added Daubney.

Author: 
Press statement