With ten days to go to the opening ceremony of the 14^th Pacific Games, Digicel, as part of its major sponsorship of Team PNG, has named the seventh and eighth winners of the weekly “Digicel Warm Up Awards” aimed at recognizing and rewarding athletes who are excelling in their preparations for the Games.

This week’s winners are ace basketballer Nape Waka and para-athlete Regina Wala Edward from Athletics who were both presented with new Digicel high speed broadband phones to recognize their performances and commitment to representing PNG. 

Twenty-four year old Nape who plays point guard in Team PNG Women’s basketball team said “I am very grateful to have been one of the winners of the Digicel Warm Up Awards and this award has inspired me to continue my commitment in training right through to the Pacific Games. My team mates and I train three times a day, seven days a week and we look forward to winning gold.”

Regina Wala Edward, eight winner of the Digicel Warm Up Award said, “I have shot-put training twice daily every week to prepare well for the Pacific Games and I am very happy that my hard work in training has been recognized through this award and I appreciate it.”

Digicel Operations Director Lorna McPherson said; “With just ten days to go the anticipation is growing across the country as we look forward to seeing our Team compete and win against the best in the Pacific. We are delighted to be able to honour athletes like Nape and Regina who are giving their all in their preparations for the Games. They are fantastic ambassadors for their sports, their families and for PNG”.

Nape and Regina have joined six other Digicel Warm Up Award Winners including Tennis ace Abigail Tere Apisah; para-athlete Elias Larry; specialist Hurdler Sharon Kwarula and Willie Jack from the PNG Boxing squad, Lynette Vai from Squash and Steven Kari from weight lifting. All eight athletes were selected by the PNGSFOC from the 340 Team PNG athletes who are travelling to represent the country in 24 sports in New Caledonia 

Nape Waka: Team PNG Basketball

Twenty four year old Nape is from Erave in the Southern Highlands Province and plays the point guard position in Team PNG’s Women’s Basketball team.

Nape is well on track with her preparations, training three times a day, seven days a week. She is recognized as a key leader among the Team PNG Women’s Basketball Team as they aspire for Gold at the 14^th Pacific Games this year. She is currently the fastest and strongest person on the team and is a key player to ensure that the Valivas win a medal at the 2011 Pacific Games.

Her local team is the current champion and has held this title for the last five years and Nape has been identified as the driving force behind the team. She is a very committed player and has a very good attitude towards training and towards her team mates and is focused on the upcoming games.

Regina Wala Edward: Para Sports- Athletics

At only 21 years of age, Regina Wala has participated in international sporting events including the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India and the recent Arafura Games in Australia where she competed in field events including shot-put, discus and javelin.

Regina who is from Aroma in the Central Province has been training hard twice daily every week to for the upcoming Pacific Games where she will participate in field events, particularly in shot-put.

In 2010, Regina was the first and only PNG female athlete to compete at a high level competition in Powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Regina also took out Gold in the women’s Javelins ambulant with a 25.68m throw during her recent competition at the Arafura Games.