By GABRIEL KATUHO
PNG Olympic Committee president Emma Waiwai has praised Team PNG for finishing fifth in the recent Mini-Pacific Games in Palau.
PNG’s athletes won a total of 77 medals – 22 gold, 29 silver and 26 bronze – to secure fifth place in the overall medal tally.
During the welcoming reception, hosted by the PNG Olympic Committee in Port Moresby yesterday, Waiwai welcomed praised the team’s performances and acknowledged their sportsmanship is representing the country.
“It is a privilege and honor to welcome team PNG from the 2025 Mini-Pacific games in Palau. Our athletes have risen to the challenges and put up an exemplary performance,” she said.
“Fifty medals came from athletics alone accounting for 65 percentage of our total medal tally, closely followed by weightlifting which contributed 14 medals. A combined 83 percent of medals was won from these two sports.
Waiwai also commended Daniel Baul, a homegrown champion who won golds in the 400m hurdles, four by 100m relay, four by 400m relay and the newly introduced four by 100m mixed relay and the silver medal in the 400m.
She said setting and breaking of national record during the games was a testament to the athlete’s courage, perseverance and commitment to excellence, reflecting the support from the families, teammates and the country.
Waiwai added that it was important to know where PNG was placed on the final medal tally and for the various sporting codes to improve in future games.
She thanked all sponsors for supporting Team PNG and applauded the National Government for providing K4.1 million for the team’s participation.
Waiwai said such funding would enable the upgrading of high-performance centres to provide world class facilities for athletes.
Congratulations..need to improve more as smaller island nations are performing well.
Let’s improve from here..going forward.
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