BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
In an announcement made at the Monthly Press Conference, Moses Aunama, the Portfolio Two Performance Manager of the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport, shared that the Karate and Taekwondo teams would be participating in championships overseas this month.
Aunama revealed that the Karate team would be heading to New Zealand for a Karate championship. Before the competition, they would stop over in Australia for a week-long training camp to prepare. Aunama assured that all necessary arrangements were being made, and the team would depart on the 23rd to represent the country at the Oceania championship.
The Karate team would consist of more than 10 athletes, carefully selected to ensure representation from each category and a balance between male and female participants. Aunama mentioned that the total squad would be 15, considering they currently have 30 athletes, with two athletes sharing one category.
Additionally, Aunama mentioned that the Taekwondo team would also be leaving at the end of June to participate in the prestigious ‘Aus Open’ Taekwondo event in Australia. This would include both able-bodied and para-athletes. The team is working diligently in preparation for the event.
The current housing for the Taekwondo team is accommodating 41 athletes, although the ideal number for the team should be 32. Aunama acknowledged that adjustments would be made accordingly.
Both competitions are expected to last for approximately one to one and a half weeks, including one week of preparation on the Gold Coast.
Aunama highlighted that the Taekwondo team had recently completed a one-week training camp with a mental coach who had visited last month and returned this month. This preparation aligns well with their upcoming representation at the ‘Aus Open’ event.
Furthermore, Aunama shared that the combat and weight sport teams would also benefit from two mentor visits by overseas coaches during the month.
