Team PNG is into training schedules as the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Pacific Mini Games looms this Friday and would like to share this statement. We have brought over a very strong contingent made up of our elite athletes from back home in PNG, the United States & Australia. At the moment, we are the largest contingent on the ground at 119 athletes and officials combined. Since our arrival last Sunday, our teams have gone straight into training. Team PNG is adamant in getting the finer details right and have kept their fitness and focus. Our Tennis teams consisting of our Pacific champions, Abigail Tere-Apisah and her nieces Patricia and Violet are getting as much court time as they can with their focus on getting their doubles combinations right. The men’s team of Mark Gibbons, Eddie Mera and Mathew Stubbings are jelling together with the prospects of medaling positive. For Golf, the trio of Slater, Xavier and Gideon are keeping tabs on their challenges faced at the Coral Ocean Resort course. Nestled on the far northern end of Saipan at an altitude of 33 feet, weather conditions can be tricky but our men are keeping their mental game on as they focus on their strategies. At the newly built Oleai Sport Complex, Team PNG is gearing for a dominant performance led by some of our finest athletes. Under watchful eyes of former PNG track legends, Subul Babo and Peter Pulu, the team began their first training session on Tuesday and according to Team Manager Kylie Martins, the team is looking good! Our para-athletes who have shown a lot of promise in their recent international outings are also focused and building their rapport as top performers. In weightlifting, our powerhouse Dika Toua has shown how much of an influence she is among the pacific community here in Saipan. Her energy and stamina is motivation enough for her fellow athletes to push on through. Finally, our Va’a athletes have not been the same following the flag bearer announcement. Team Manager Diavabu Boge Morea is certain, that this is indeed a motivating factor for them to push hard for the Games. The opening ceremony is this Friday with our Tennis team kicking off proceedings tomorrow at the American Memorial courts. Weightlifting and Va’a start their competitions on Monday June 20 while Golf & Athletics begin the next day, Tuesday June 21. Follow our Team PNG page on Facebook and Instagram for more updates as the competition progresses. Go Team PNG!!!