By Lorraine Genia – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
Reports made in the Fiji Sun have confirmed that former Pacific Sprint Queen, Makelesi Bulikiobo-Batimala, will make her come-back from retirement, at the Pacific Games in July.
Toea Wisil, who stood unopposed by merit, now has a challenge to overcome, to winning gold at the games.
Makelesi’s come back will be the battle of the fittest amongst the two, as Toea is yet to recover from hamstring strains.
Makelesi Bulikiobo-Batimala retired after competing at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia Samoa, at which she won Gold in the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints, ahead of former sprinter, Mae Koime, and PNG’s current sprint queen, Toea Wisil.
At 38 years of age, and after 8 years of retirement, Fiji athletics coach, Albert Miller told the Fiji Sun that Batimala will be one of the team leaders, leading the athletics team.
Batimala, alongside other Fijian sprint sensations, Sisilia Seavula and Younis Bese, say PNG is the only team they expect the toughest competition from.
While PNG has a good chance at securing medals in the games, come July, Toea Wisil who would be the strongest contender for the 100m and 200m sprints for team PNG, is now in a race against time to get her body fit and ready for the games.
Wisil, who strained her hamstring last week, returned to training this week, and is confident that she will be fit for the games.
Meanwhile, the Fijian athletics training squad have been training at the ANZ Stadium, with their first trials for the Pacific Games to be held at the end of this month.
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