In a ceremony held at the Paradise Cinema in Port Moresby, Kenneth Hopkins, Charles Martin and Kea Kapulu Swarz were all recognised. 

All three represented their country in the 1960s and 1970s, when Papua New Guinea was still a territory of Australia. 

Hopkins won Papua New Guinea's first-ever medal at an international sporting event when he got bronze in boxing at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Australia. 

He also brought home a bronze medal from the 1963 South Pacific Games in Fiji.

Swarz competed for Papua New Guinea at netball, athletics and softball, winning bronze in netball at the same South Pacific Games. 

"Thank you for recognising us," she said.

"I am very happy to be among those inducted and I would like to see women taking part in more sports."

Martin was highly successful for his country at the 1975 South Pacific Games, collecting eight swimming medals, four of which were gold. 

Papua New Guinea's vice minister for sports, Wesley Raminai, congratulated the athletes on their achievements. 

"Great moments are made by great people, these are the moments that shape our history and change our lives," he said.

"The history of Papua New Guinea is full of such people.

"While their achievements will be recalled for many generations to come, it is their triumph over adversity to achieve their goals that we must also recognise and appreciate."

Eleven other people are currently in the Sports Hall of Fame, including former sprinter Sir John Kaputin and high jumper, Edward Laboran.