By GABRIEL KATUHO
THE Papua New Guinea Boxing Union (PNGBU) has released its yearly calendar and also announced its training squad and officials for the Oceania Championships in Tahiti this year.
The National Boxing Union (NBU) has its training squad of eight male and eight female athletes under different categories.
The athletes started their trainings, commencing on 06th of January and ends on 31st of this Month.
President of PNG Boxing Union Dr. Kendino thanked the PNG sports foundation for allowing the NBU training squad to be trained at the Gym inside Sir John Guise stadium.
The squad which was described by Kendino as ‘not the final’ will have their trial match during the Kokoda Challenge against Australian fighters as part of the commemoration of the ANZAC day.
The Kokoda Challenge will be as the major fundraiser event for the PNGBU to raise money.
It will also be an avenue to finalise the team for the Oceania Championship in Tahiti come March 31st.
Kendino said in preparation for the Kokoda challenge, the team will head to Goroka for a training session and also in the elite Camp next month if funding permitted.
The Kokoda Challenge which became an annual event for the PNGBU for seven years running now after the COVID-19 Pandemic, is expected to feature the boxers from Victoria and Queensland who are the current state champions in Australia.
“That will give us the selectors some indication of how strong our boxers are and how they will compete in Tahiti,” Kendino said.
PNGBU pleased to have its fighters setting the pace from 2015 Pacific games by winning 8 gold medals, three silver and three bronze medals which president believes will do great in Tahiti.
Kendino is also calling on potential cooperate sponsors to come forward to help fund boxing in the country that has proven to be the best over the years.
The Oceania Championship will be held in Tahiti from 31st March to April 6 where boxers from all over Oceania region will find out who becomes the strongest and the smartest in the ring.
Referee and Judge Kazu Temu mentioned that the fighters have been selected based on their ring time and will monitor them through their training sessions with strict scrutiny in discipline as well.
Meanwhile, Kumul Minerals Holdings limited will be the naming rights sponsor for PNG boxing championships matches every year for the next five years, however, the PNGBU is awaiting its formal announcement to be made sooner.
PNGBU Secretary General has also expressed his gratitude toward Lamana hotel for being the official host of the boxing matches this year going forward.
