By Natalie Cholohei and Phylma Timea, Port Moresby 2015 Games News Service
PORT MORESBY July 14 – Papua New Guinea muscled into five gold medals in the men and women’s bodybuilding competition at the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games after seeing off tough challenges from Tonga, New Caledonia and American Samoa at Caritas Secondary School on Tuesday.
PNG men and women proved to be tough to beat, flexing their way to five golds, three silver and two bronze in all categories, but fell short in the overall events.
A fine display of physique from the Tongans shook the PNG athletes’ hopes, Tongans won three gold in the men’s heavy categories – over 100kg, up to 100kg and up to 90kg – as well as the men’s overall title.
Men’s up to 75kg gold medalist and veteran bodybuilder, PNG’s Jack Viyufa, was happy with his performance in Port Moresby, saying he knew he would win.
“I am happy about my performance because I prepared well for these Games, I knew I was going to get gold as it was already in my system,” he said.
“When I train, I usually tell myself that I have to be better than my previous competition, so I will do well.”
This gold medal for Goroka’s most ripped son adds to his Pacific Games medal collection, it is his third in the 75kg category.
New Caledonia’s Virginie Foucault maintained her reign in the women’s division, bagging gold in the women’s up to 55kg division and taking the women’s overall title – a repeat of her tally in at the 2011 Games.
Ursula Martin (ASA) took the other women’s gold medal in the over 55kg class.
Trevor Jimmy Huni (TGA) took overall honours, in addition to his victory in the up to 90kg category.
Huni’s stacked countrymen Standford Faaui (TGA) and Manase Afuhaamango (TGA) slid into gold in the men’s over 100kg and up to 100kg events respectively.
Other homegrown winners were Mark Donald (PNG) in the up to 65kg class, Jim Selen in the up to 70kg category Steve Bomal in the up to 80kg division and Wilfred Kurua (PNG) in the up to 85kg event.
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