Shannon Sogavare, daughter of Solomon Islands former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, recently returned to Honiara for holidays .
She proudly represented her country at the 2023 Pacific Games.
Raw Sports reporter Elizabeth had the privilege of speaking with her before she returned to China to continue her studies.
Shannon, a national table tennis athlete, hails from Choiseul and Malaita Province.
She is currently studying in China.
Affectionately known as the “golden table tennis girl,” Shannon’s journey began in grade five at Palm Drive International School when table tennis was first introduced.
“At first, I was just playing for fun,” Shannon recalls. She later asked her parents for a plywood table to practice at home.
Her interest grew, and she began to take the sport more seriously during her form four and five years at Betikama Adventist College.
With the guidance of her coach, Kevin Olea, Shannon excelled, winning two gold medals in the school league and earning a spot on the national team.
“It is the consistency and the love I have for this sport that drew me to this game,” she says.
Shannon’s training routine varies between China and the Solomon Islands, but the intensity remains the same.
She balances schoolwork and training.
In China, her coaches encourage daily training sessions of two to three hours, though they understand her commitments as a student-athlete and she attends about three sessions a week.
The biggest challenge has been balancing her studies with her athletic career.
She had to pause her studies in China to compete in the 2023 Pacific Games.
Shannon trains more in China during her free time and in the Solomon Islands during school holidays.
Some of her most memorable moments include the three months of training with national athletes in China before the Pacific Games and representing her country at the games.
“It’s memorable because I get to watch my colleague athletes playing alongside me,” she said.
Shannon expressed her gratitude to her supporters. She encourages others to experience the sport.
“Table tennis is a very beautiful and unique game; come and experience the sport,” she says
