GOROKA: The PNG National Sports Institute under its Athlete Development Program (ADP) has signed up five new emerging talents.
Group photo of the 2026 ADP Cohort after the contract signing program.
The talents were identified during the Athletics PNG Inc. 2025 64th National Track & Field Championships hosted at the PNG NSI, Goroka. The rising talents join eight other continuing athletes in the program.
Headlining the new signings are Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s Abigail Kinna and East Sepik’s Hans Dani both making the Sprints team for ADP.
AROB’s Abigail Kinna watches proceedings with continuing ADP talent Marykate Pais.
The other new exciting talents are Thomas Emmanuel, Helena Sigamai and Spencer Pombo from Goroka.
The trio were identified from the Eastern Highlands Province Primary Schools Sports Program (PSSP) in 2025 – a program hosted by NSI to nurture talent through partnerships with schools. The three progressed from the PSSP to the Highlands Open Championships and further solidified their performance at the National Championships.
The signing event hosted last month reaffirmed PNG NSI’s commitment to building a strong, disciplined, and academically grounded generation of future champions.
PNG NSI Director Ms. Janet Gimots congratulated the parents and guardians of the selected athletes, acknowledging the crucial role families play in shaping young sports people.
She encouraged them to continue supporting their children throughout their scholarship period, noting that success in high‑performance sport requires a strong partnership between home and the institute.
Ms. Gimots also emphasized that the ADP Program is built on a holistic development philosophy. “Our focus is not only on sporting excellence,” she said. “We expect our athletes to uphold strong academic standards as well. The ADP Program is designed to develop well‑rounded young Papua New Guineans who excel both on the field and in the classroom.”
PNG NSI Director Ms. Janet Gimots addressing the athletes and parents during their contract signing last week.
ADP Program Values
The PNG NSI ADP Program is guided by a set of core values that shape every athlete’s journey:
- Discipline – Commitment to training, personal conduct, and academic responsibility.
- Respect – For coaches, teammates, opponents, and the learning environment.
- Integrity – Upholding honesty, fairness, and accountability in all actions.
- Excellence – Striving for high performance in sport and education.
- Teamwork – Working collaboratively and supporting one another’s growth.
- Humility – Being humble, understanding your strengths & weaknesses without need to proving superiority.
- Resilience – Overcoming challenges with determination and a positive mindset.
These values form the foundation of the program’s approach to athlete development, ensuring that each participant grows not only as a competitor but as a responsible and capable young leader.
With the 2026 intake now confirmed, PNG NSI looks forward to a year of structured training, academic support, and personal growth as it continues to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s high‑performance pathway.
The eight continuing athletes are: Damien Kote, Bradford Holie, Danny Warkit, Nathan Kawona, Japhet Wilson, Merna Martins, Marykate Pais, Kerame Tamara Baru.
The five new talents are: Helena Sigamai (Goroka), Spencer Pombo (Goroka), Thomas Emmanuel (Goroka), Hans Dani (East Sepik) and Abigail Kinna (AROB).
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