PNG weightlifting queen and veteran Olympian Dika Toua will not be able to represent PNG at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Toua told this paper Thursday that, unfortunately, she didn’t make the Olympic team because of one kilo.
“I missed out on one kilo. Just by one kilo. But I’m happy, I’m proud of Morea Baru, who has made it that far.
“You know, I’ve done five Olympics, and I was hoping to make history again for the sixth one. But unfortunately, I know this is my advice that I always give to young people or anyone. We may make all our plans, but God has the last say,” said Toua.
Toua said, though one door has closed, she is sure there are other doors.
“So, I’m not giving up hope. I have the Mini Pacific Games in 2025, and it’s not far from the Commonwealth Championships, which is in Fiji, September.”
She said it’s not a big deal that she’s missed out on the Paris Olympics as it is a stepping stone for her, and also gives her the opportunity to look forward to more competitions ahead.
“And also, while I’m doing it, I want to, you know, this is also a lesson learned and also for our youths and our junior lifters and other elite lifters that, you know, anything is possible. It’s just that you need to work hard to achieve it. And I want to show them that missing out is not the end of the world. You have things that you can look forward to. And with weightlifting, we have competitions after competition. So yeah, it’s never-ending ending.”
Toua also extended her gratitude to all those that have helped her in her journey to the Olympics.
“But I’d like to thank everyone that has contributed.”
She is grateful for the grant that they have given her in her preparation and also the Australian Weightlifting Federation and the Oceania Weightlifting Institute that helped us while we were preparing for the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, PNG female sprinter, Leonie Beu received timely news ahead of her participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month.
Beu, during her preparation this week, was accepted to compete in the 200m at the American Track League Meet in Memphis Tennessee set for Saturday (13 July 13).
The race will feature a host of top U.S. athletes, many of whom made the finals in their respective events at the U.S Olympic Trials.
They include double Olympic gold medallist Dalilah Muhammed and another 400m hurdler Anna Cockrell, who finished second at the U.S trials in the race on 30 June where Sydney McLaughlan set a new world record.
Upon hearing confirmation of her entry, an excited Beu who is based in Tennessee said that it had been her dream to compete amongst the best, and she is really looking forward to her race.
Following the recent Oceania Championships, Beu has been training back at her base in Murfreesboro, which is just a 3.5hr road trip from Memphis.
She is expected to fly to Paris on 23 July and meet up with the PNG Team there, ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 26 July.
