by Lorraine Genia – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
The PNG Weightlifting Federation (PNGWF) for the first time spoke about Steven Kari’s disappearance from the code of weightlifting.
PNGWF Vice President, Frank Robby, explained to the media their efforts in retaining PNG’s Commonwealth Games gold winning medalist.
“I asked him to come back. I told him, come back son and in front of me, he said no!” Robby said.
Given Kari’s uncertainty, the national federation’s secretary Lakani Oala confirmed the executive committee’s stance on Steven Kari’s return as an athlete.
President of PNGWF, Sir John Dawanicura, said the federation would continue with its plans on developing athletes to attend international events, and that the opportunity for Steven Kari to be a part of the team remains.
There are a number of announcements expected to be made in the coming weeks in regards to the lifters representing Papua New Guinea at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Unfortunately, the federation could not comment on whether or not Kari would be one the lifters travelling to Rio.
