BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE 2017 Pacific Mini Games silver medallist, Joshua Samoi is looking to make Solomon Islanders proud at the Pacific Games 2023.
The 32 –year -old black belt karate athlete competed in the 75 categories when he represented the country in the 2017 Pacific mini Games in Vanuatu.
Young Samoi who is from Malaita province, at that time received a silver medal after coming in second in the tourney.
“I don’t want others to come and take away it from me and go away with it. It will look a bit shameful to me if it happened like that on my home soil,’’ expressed Samoi.
“As a host, I need to be serious in my training and that is what I am doing now. All of us too –like the government, sporting federations etc… we must step up to achieve our goals,’’ he said.
Mr Samoi started taking up the art of karate in 2009 after it was introduced in the country.
“That was how I join the sport. I heard of the sport at that time and to become a member you have to register with a fee of $100. We used to do training at Bishop Epalle catholic school,’’ he said.
He told Raw Sport that he believes since they are now having their training at SINIS it will help him a lot in terms of his preparation.
“In karate, it’s important to build muscles and legs and to improve on those skills and SINIS will offer that, but we have to play our part as well. We’re so fortuned to have SINIS – a setting we never have before,’’ he said.
“This time we are preparing for the Oceania championship in New Caledonia this year (June), some regional competition is also coming up where we are anticipating to participate as part of the journey for the Games next year 2023,’’ said the young star.
“I want to make Solomon Islanders proud and that is my aim,’’ he said.
He also called on the National government to recognize them and support them as it is the only way forward to achieve the 40 target.
“I understand that COVID-19 is affecting all of us financially but I would like to call on the government to assist us, especially in terms of the finance because sometimes good fighters are often left out when travelling abroad due to financial issues.
“It happens on several occasions and we don’t want such thing as we are preparing to host one of the major events of the pacific which is just a few months away. It means the government needs to ensure everyone is prepared and well equipped before the PG2023,’’ he said.
When asked if he is confident to be a medal winner at the pacific games in 2023, Samoi said he is confident and will prove himself to win a medal in 2023.
“Whether we have a short time or vice versa, it’s now time for us to focus because winning at a bigger tournament like the coming one will not come easy. I need hard work, commitment etc… same for every one of us doing our training for the upcoming events,’’ he said.
Young Samoi’s driving force to become a karate fighter not only comes after it was introduced in the country but has come from his father who also played a few Martial Arts back then.
Samoi is amongst the Karate training squad that is currently doing their training at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS).
