SEASON'S GREETINGS!

With the festive holidays around the corner, let me wish you all a Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year). Stay safe, stay healthy and plan to help others!

KARI SMASHES COMMONWEALTH RECORD ...

PNG Weightlifting strong-man Steven Kari on Dec 3 smashed the 94 kg Junior Men’s Commonwealth Junior Weightlifting records on the way to winning both the Junior and Senior Men’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Crown in Penang Malaysia.

Kari was the highlight of Penang’s leading newspaper, The Star reporting with the headline “Kari too hot to handle”.  

 Photo: Kari smashing the Commonwealth Men's Junior records in the 94kg division.

Kari beat a very strong field of lifters from India, Nigeria, Australia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and England to get Gold ahead of powerful Indian lifter and New Dehli 2010 Commonwealth Games GOLD Medalist Chandrakant Dadu Mali and Ribouem Simplice of Australia, lifting a total of 352 kg.

Kari needed only one lift in the Clean & Jerk to blitz the field after Chandrakant had taken the lead in the Snatch with 153 kg, just 1 kg ahead of Kari’s 152 kg. However, he could only master 188kg in the Clean & Jerk and when Kari lifted 190 kg in his first attempt,the Commonwealth Gold medal had found a new home in Papua New Guinea. With the Gold Medal secured Kari made his second lift with 200 kg on the bar, a task he made light work of to the amazement and cheers of a very appreciative audience. Kari did not bother to make a third attempt.

While Kari’s 352 kg fetched him the Gold Medal,Chadrakant totalled 341 kg to win Silver (153/188 ) and  Bronze medal went to Australia’s Simplice who totalled 337 kg (150/187).

The young Hanuabadan who has spent the last 3 years under the watchful eyes of Coach Paul Coffa at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in New Caledonia, appeared so confident and in control right from his first lift.

On Thursday female lifters Guba Hale and Sandra Ako competing in the 69 kg Women’s category won a bronze medal each with Hale’s medal coming in the Senior Division andAko winning hers in the Junior division.

Earlier in the week Ovia sisters, Gillian and Bea, also won bronze medals in their 48 kg Women’s categories in the Junior and Youth divisions respectively.

Dika Toua made a convincing comeback to competitive lifting after recovering for the last 4 months due to illness finishing 6^thand missing out with a Gold medal last attempt lift of 102 kg. Dika looked comfortable in the competition and showed her opponents that her best is not too far off once she gets full strength.

Monalisa Kassman and young Konio Toua (58 kg Women’s) made personal best lifts as did Lorraine Harry in the 75 kg Women’s. Doreen Ovia also performed strongly in her first International outing.

Thelma Toua, one of three Toua siblings competition equalled the Mini Pacific Games Gold Medal performance by the Fijian lifter in the 48 kg Women’s division.   

In the Men’s division’s Morea Baru finished 8th out of 10 competitors in the 56 kg category. Toua Udia performed well in the 77 kg Men’s category however missed out on medals.

Young lifters Ignatius Morea, Fred Oala, Isi Kevau Billy Puka and Veteran Boe Boge all missed out on medals.

The competition had more than 60 Commonwealth Nations represented and is a clear indication of the competition that can be expected at this level. The young PNG Weightlifters can take heart out of this experience and appreciate the level of competition they must reach to be at the top.  WitnessingDika Toua and Steven Kari’s heroics should encourage and take them to the next level.

The President of PNG Weightlifting Federation, Sir John Dawanincura in acknowledging a fantastic effort of Steven Kari also acknowledged the performance of how the Team PNG Athletes to the Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships in Penang as outlined by Team Manager, Lakani Oala.

He stated that our main objective was to give our Senior Athletes in particular, the opportunity to compete against the best in the Commonwealth and gauge their performances, and expectations to a reality check re selection for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

"The results in themselves for Athletes who did not win a medal had to be taken as a motivation to do better in their pursuit of excellence.

"I, therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate Steven, the other medalists and all our representatives for doing us proud.

"In conclusion I take this opportunity to also thank the Government through Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Sports, 2015 Games and National Events for the unprecedented level of funding to Sports.  We would also like to acknowledge Andrew Daubney, General Manager Marketing & Sales Trukai Industries for their ongoing sponsorship.

"On behalf of the Athletes and Officials to the Penang Championships I also wish to thank the Secretary General, Mrs Auvita Rapilla and her Management Team for their efficient support to Sports through Go for Gold program.

"Last but not least I would like to thank the Coach of our Elite Athletes in Noumea Paul Coffa for his continuous support, Douglas Mea our National Coach and our Management Team of Lakani Oala, Richard Kuna and Winis Tua."

NOTE: Steven Kari and his elder sister Rita both won three gold medals at the IX Mini Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna in September.