SIMBAI WINS FIRST MEDAL FOR PNG

SEPT 3 STORY ...

KASPAR Simbai won the first medal for PNG in the 10,000m in the 2013 IX Mini Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna.

As of 4.00pm (Wallisian) local time, PNG has won three gold, three silver and nine bronze medals.

The three gold medals were won by Morea Baru in the 56kg division in weightlifting.

Simbai came third to win the bronze in a time of 38 minutes and 12.88s after Siosi Rosfelo of Solomons (35 minutes, 17.85s) and New Caledonian Benfodda Nordine at a time of 34 minutes, 44.22s).

A little later in the day, the women’s V6 1500m team trailed the favourites Tahiti to clutch the silver.

The PNG men’s V6 500m team won the bronze medal with Tahiti showing its dominance in the sport by winning the gold, with Wallis and Futuna taking the second place.

A number of PNG male athletes have qualified in their heats for the 100m and 400m finals to be run tomorrow.

Toea Wisil and other female athletes would also run their respective heats tomorrow.

In volleyball, the PNG women’s team won their first game against Nauru with a 25-17, 25-17 and 25-13.

Although coach John Kombeng is happy with the results, he said they have to watch out for Fiji, Tahiti and Wallis and Futuna who have height.

Chef de Mission Richard Kassman is happy with the results.

“There is a lot of improvement in the different sports and the development of our young athletes who are making their first appearance in the Pacific Games,” he said.