by Shane Saroya – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
The Coach of the Men’s and Women’s teams, David Palomo, expressed his confidence that his team will perform to expectations. He added, it will be a tough challenge.
They will have to train harder and be on top of their game in order to succeed.
The Tahitians won 11 of the 12 gold medals during the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia and the host country won the other.
That is the challenge the members of the Guam team will have to bear in mind.
Palomo said, the primary focus has been their fitness and timing on the water and the paddlers have been pushed beyond their limits, having completed the 18 mile distance route and sprints. In total they finished about 38 miles in three days.
The team suffered a disappointing result, finishing with just three medals in both mens and the womens teams in the 8th Micronesian games in Pohnpei.
Coach Palomo said,they are anticipating the worst that could have happened, because they actually experienced it and they should be in a better position to avoid a similar situation in PNG.
Palomo again said, they have medalled before and it’s possible to do it again.
“If Guam is this wildcard that the bigger countries have to respect, than they are not just here to participate.”
The team will arrive in PNG well in advance of the race, and have a few days to get in the water and test out the course before the Games.
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