PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) - Despite the challenges stacked against her, Papua New Guinea's Lewa Hani defied all the odds to fulfill her dream of representing the country in the Pacific Games.

Hani, a mother to two kids was able to represent Papua New Guinea and made her debut at the 2019 Pacific Games at the tender age of 41 years old.

"Age is just a number and it should not define what you want to achieve in your life; whether it’s in school, sports, or being an entrepreneur. You can achieve anything when you put your mind to it and work hard to achieve it," Hani said, who celebrated her 41st birthday in Samoa during the Pacific Games.

The Papua New Guinea native proved the adage true and then some. Aside from her duties as a mother and wife, Hani is working full-time for the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) as a Finance Officer.

"Juggling a full-time job, coaching youths at basketball, and keeping up with two children of my own is a challenge. And then adding the daily squad training seemed like a recipe for burn-out," shared Hani.

"I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but all I could think of was my "why" and keeping my eyes fixed on making the final selection," she added.

Photo: Women's national team representing PNG in the 2019 Pacific Games

Hani reflects fondly on her mission to make the final cut for the Pacific Games squad last year and wears her selection as a badge of honor.

"Blood, sweat, and tears is an understatement! I was training alongside girls half my age and being the oldest on the train-on-squad gave me a sense of defeat and doubt at times," she shared. "I went to sleep thinking of quitting and not returning, yet I’d wake up the next day and do it all over again."

Hani credited her support crew that included her husband taking care of their children and school matters, her aunt who helped her recover and rest after the daily practices, and support from her employer the PNGTA that pushed her to realize her dream.

"It was a chapter in my life where I gave every ounce of energy and love that I got for the game to achieve my dream but my passion for basketball does not stop with representing my country. I want to be a role model and help other young girls have the same feeling I had," Hani shared.

Lewa, a coach for the Chariots Basketball Club, an affiliated member of the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG), is also active in Basketball For Good programs in Port Moresby.

"I try to volunteer in the BFPNG's Basketball For Good programs, the ultimate dream is to provide a platform that can help young girls that love the sport reach their dreams as I did. I get to interact with girls that have passion for the game and it inspires me to see them enjoy basketball," she shared.

"B4G has helped the country by doing their bit in keeping kids and youths off the streets through Pikinini Hoops and Twilight Programs. Also, the participants of Hoops for Health and Mums A Hero Programs have a positive outlook on life," she added about the BFPNG programs.

Photo: Hani with her Chariots Basketball Club

After realizing her dream of playing in the Pacific Games, Hani shared her next goals - to be a future national team coach and help create a basketball academy in Port Moresby.

"I hope to be a national coach one day and the other for PNG to have a Basketball Academy. The latter is a long shot but I believe that working together with like-minded people, it is possible," Lewa shared.

"It would be fulfilling to have young people not just excel in basketball but academically as well with the consideration for life after basketball," she added.

The 42-year old proud mother is barely scratching the surface on her next goals but with her fortitude, perseverance, and discipline - with leaders like Lewa Hani leading the way, the generation of the next female players in the country is in good hands.

BFPNG's Hoops For Health program under their Basketball For Good strategy is supported by the Australian Government through the Pacific Sports Partnerships, and FIBA's Foundation, the International Basketball Foundation.

FIBA