BARU BRINGS IN THREE GOLDS ON DAY 1

FROM SEPT 3:

HANUABADAN Morea Baru brought in three gold medals for PNG in on day 1 of the 2013 IX Mini Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna.

The Hanuabada weighlifting lad, who lives and trains in Nouméa with coach Paul Coffa, won the medals in the snatch, clean and jerk and total in the 56kg division.

His fellow villager and teenager Fred Oala who competed in the same division won two silvers – one each in the clean and jerk and total – but picked up the bronze in the snatch.

Earlier in the day, Jullian Ovia, 16, the girl from Kairuku, Central, picked up three bronze medals in the 48kg in the snatch, clean and jerk and total.

A bit later, Monalisa Kassman, 20, won three bronze medals also in the 58kg in the snatch, clean and jerk and total.

Yet to compete later in the evening (5.00pm local time) are Isi Kevau and Ignatius Morea. They will compete in the 62kg division.

More PNG competitors will compete in weightlifting tomorrow and it is hoped that more of the top medals would be grabbed.