BY CHRIS ALEX
SOLOMON Islands National Boxing Coach John San, who is key member of the the country’s boxing team at the recently concluded XVII Pacific Games 2023 in Honiara has praised the boxers for an impressive performance.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the young boxers for their steadfast devotion, hard work, and dedication throughout the Games. The team accomplished an amazing feat of securing 12 medals, which brings pride to the nation, in spite of obstacles.
With 12 medals, the Solomon Islands boxing team has surpassed all competition expectations, setting a record for any Pacific Games. The young athletes have given their all to represent the Solomon Islands, even though a gold medal was missed in extremely close contests.
Silver medals were won by Clinton Tetekana (52 kg), Joshua O’oku (67 kg), Louisa Ngoni (48 kg), and Max Makana (60 kg). The bronze medallists were Ron Taniveke (57 kg), Pemberton Lele (63.5 kg, Olympic), Beata Keiaka (70 kg), Ela Kaka (52 kg), Phineas Pitakoe (48 kg), Mark Garvin (60 kg), and Francis Niusaru (86 kg).
Coach San expressed satisfaction with Solomon Islands boxing team’s results and optimism for future performance with current support and facilities.
“I thank the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) for their unwavering support, especially for their crucial facilities for the team’s training and athlete development,” he said.
The boxers have demonstrated an outstanding performance in the difficult sport of boxing, even though the elusive gold medal remained just out of reach. The Games have provided valuable insights into various styles, levels, scoring systems, and competitors, allowing for growth and momentum for future development.
