Papua New Guinea have an enlarged team of ten swimmers competing at this week's World Short-Course Championships in Doha, as the country steps up preparations for hosting the 2015 Pacific Games.
Swimming's governing body FINA pays for three athletes to attend but, with PNG wanting to do well on home soil in July, the government has increased funding support.
2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ryan Pini is among the PNG line-up, having come out of retirement to compete at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
The 32 year old has been pleasantly surprised by his own form.
"So I've entered in five events and I didn't really have much of a plan to be here but my training has come along very well. I've found it pretty difficult training and working at the same time but my body seems to be handling it pretty well and I was in Australia about four weeks ago and broke the PNG record - personal best time as well - in the 50m backstroke. Things are still looking good for me and aiming to do some pretty good times here as well".
Ryan Pini says the PNG swimmers are again targeting personal best times and says rubbing shoulders with the worlds best is a great opportunity for the team.
"We've got quite a few swimmers here that wouldn't have made it here if we hadn't have had that support. At the Oceania Championships where we had 20 swimmers come down [and] we've got such a large team here compared to the other Pacific countries. It's going to grow the sport and these guys are going to bring back their experience and hopefully others will learn from it and benefit from it as well".
About 900 swimmers in total are competing in Doha, with Fiji and the Cook Islands among the other Pacific nations in attendance.
