Ume secures late invitation to Olympics
Papua New Guinea boxing champion John Ume secured a last-minute call to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games for his second appearance at the world’s largest sports festival.
The PNG top amateur boxer qualified for a spot through a tripartite agreement following the last minute withdrawal of a Solomon Islands fighter, who won’t be able to attend the Olympics due to logistical issues.
Ume is now the latest inclusion in the Team PNG contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympics and will join Josh Tarere and Georgia Leigh Vele from swimming, Gibson Mara and Kevin Kassman from Taekwondo, Leonie Beu from Athletics and Morea Baru from the weightlifting code.
The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee [PNGOC] confirmed that Ume has been invited to compete in the 63.5kg category, filling in the vacant spot for a fellow Melanesian boxer.
Ume, 27 from Central is a seasoned athlete and Olympian who previously represented Papua New Guinea at the 2020 Summer Olympics and achieved a gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games.
He also showcased his skills at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Piled with international exposure and experience, Ume is the best option to represent the country in his second Olympic Games.
His appointment alongside coach Peter Morrison is a welcomed addition to the current crop of athletes enroute to Paris. The boxing duo flew to Singapore on Monday and will join the rest of Team PNG group ahead of the opening ceremony.
PNGOC in a media statement expressed its gratitude for the opportunity granted, which allowed the inclusion of one more of our athletes, John Ume, in the boxing category.
The PNGOC also extended its best wishes to the athlete and coach on their journey and success in representing Papua New Guinea at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
