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Eastern Highlands teams strike four national titles
By Waliagai Olewale
The Owan Touch Association is satisfied with its performance at the 2026 National Touch Championship, securing three titles in Port Moresby.
The association was among Kainantu Corporate and Gateway Touch to send several teams to compete in the nation’s capital, representing Eastern Highlands, with support from Kainantu [K92] Mining Limited and other sponsors.
Owan’s standout performance came with titles in the Junior Under-20 Women’s, Open Women’s and Senior Women’s divisions, securing three of the eight national titles.
Team Manager Israel Bunawa said the main purpose of bringing teams to compete in the city was to expose the talent they have in the Obura-Wonenara District.
“The last four days of the tournament have been really tough knowing that the other associations brought their best teams to compete, but we knew we had to give our best.”
“We are grateful to be here at the National Championships. Coming from a rural area in Eastern Highlands has its own challenges, but we wanted to bring the best talents we had to compete and the results paid off.”
Meanwhile, Gateway Touch Association President Gabriel Molken said this was their second appearance at the national tournament, after making their debut last year in Morobe.
Gateway Touch brought teams in the Open and Senior divisions, with their Senior Men’s team claiming the national title at the Bisini football grounds yesterday.
“Our association was established last year before the last national championship. This is our second appearance at this event. This year we brought our Junior U20 girls, Open and Senior divisions to compete,” Molken said.
Eastern Highlands was represented by three associations this year, while Ijivitari Touch Association represented Northern Province in the absence of Popondetta and Sohe at the championships.
Ijivitari’s U20 Junior Boys finished as runners-up.
Other provinces represented included New Vlas Touch of East New Britain, Lae Corporate Touch representing Morobe Province, and Australian-based Queensland’s PNG Paias, who competed in the four-day championship in Port Moresby.