At the Laser World Championships in Melbourne Australia earlier this year Papua New Guinea siblings Rose-Lea and Teariki Numa (pictured) qualified PNG for the men’s and women’s Laser events and will represent PNG at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Other Oceania sailors who have qualified in Melbourne to compete in Tokyo are Sophia Morgan from Fiji and Eroni Leilua from Samoa. They join Australians Matt Wearn and Mara Stranski and New Zealander Sam Meech who have been selected to fill Olympic places qualified at previous Laser World Championships.
Oceania Laser President Ken Hurling said of these young sailors;
“Next year 2021 in Japan some of our Oceania Sailors will be the youngest sailors in attendance from the smallest countries in the World. For small countries to compete with high spending countries is tough but they are not there for the medals they are there as proud sailors just wanting to march with their country flag over their shoulder and in their hearts and do their best.
I would like to wish all Oceania Laser Sailors the best and at the closing hold your head high be proud of what you have achieved, you are an OLYMPIAN and that means something.”