Team PNG

Team PNG is good to go

The contingent of 148 athletes will see Team PNG take part in 10 of the 14 sports on offer which include boxing, netball, golf, tennis and weightlifting.

At the last Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna in 2013, Team PNG topped the medal tally winning 30 gold medals.

“From the analysis done by our office, thanks to Chris Amini, we forecast winning 45 gold medals, 28 silver medals and 24 bronze bronze medals. Will that be enough to come number one again? We’ll find out. For now, we’ll focus on the process and the results will come,“said Waiwai.

Team PNG taken through SDG session

It was run by former Barramundis captain and AIMAG2017 Team PNG general manager, Chris Amini.

While using the concept of sports as a vehicle to help create awareness on social issues in communities, Amini also encouraged the athletes to put their hands up and be the change in their communities.

The session allowed the athletes to learn about the importance of some of the goals which included getting a quality education, good health and well-being and gender equality.

VIDEO: Athletes to visit Kokopo

The athletes will be there for the Olympic Values Programme which they will be conducted in four schools between August 28 and 31.
The program focuses on the Olympic Values of Friendship, Respect and Excellence which are important aspects of sports.

 

Carolyn Ure with more 

Team PNG youth return with higher goals

Despite returning without a medal this time round, the team was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games and have set higher future goals for themselves.

“The main purpose for Team PNG was to expose our young athletes to a higher level of competition and a multi-sport Games environment, and each of them achieved that which is a great building block for the future,” said Team PNG Chef de Mission, Michael Henao.

Team PNG heading home

“Earlier in the day we attended and participated in an interactive learning program called "Athletes Lab" where participants talked about social issues affecting the Commonwealth in the context of sport and we discussed solutions, “said Chef de Mission, Michael Henao.

He said Team PNG attended the closing ceremony at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau and are now all packed and looking forward to returning home.

“We will be arriving at Jacksons Airport on 28th July at 12pm flying Qantas,” said Henao.

​PNG downs NC 7-0

The PNG girls kept the pressure on right from the start and finally broke the defence down in the 30th minute through Jacklyn Maiyosi, who fired one past keeper Karine Xozame.

The lead was pushed out to 2-0 right on half-time, thanks to a well-placed strike off the boot of PNG’s first goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup – Nicollete Ageva.

There was no stopping PNG after this, starting with a goal from Ramona Padio three minutes into the second half.

VIDEO: Team PNG update

The Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Nassau, from July 19 to 23.

 

Sophie Yaruso with more 

​Day two: Wisil wins gold

The highlight for PNG was in the last race of the night that Toea Wisil, as expected, blitzed the field in the women’s 100m to win by a margin of 0.6 of a second.

In the men’s race, Nazmie Lee Marai almost caused a major upset as he closed in fast on the hot favourite Jeremy Dodson of Samoa (formerly of the USA) with the finish line approaching.

His run however, was timed a fraction late as he missed out on a world championships qualifying win by 2/100th of a second.

Team PNG building up for international events

While the main emphasis may be on the Pacific Mini-Games to be held in Vanuatu in December, Team PNG is equally excited about participating at two international events which will take place before this.

The first of these is the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) at Nassau in the Bahamas which will be held from July 19 to 23.

Chef de Mission for Team PNG, Michael Henao said the Commonwealth Youth Games are an exciting opportunity for young Papua New Guineans to aspire to be something great.

Ovinou defeated in elimination round

Competing in the men’s judo -66kg division, Bouchard, who is ranked 16th in the world, was declared the winner by Ippon with Uchi-mata.

Ippon is the highest score a fighter can achieve while Uchi-mata in judo is an inner thigh throw.

Ovinou was apologetic in defeat, feeling he had let the nation down.

The Canadian Bouchard went on to fight for the bronze medal in the -66kg division.

Ovinou is PNG’s first judo athlete to compete at an Olympics.