BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
SOLOMON Islands para-athlete Rodney Satini has won gold and silver for the country in the men’s team and singles competitions of the XVII Pacific Games 2023 by showcasing his extraordinary talent and perseverance.
Satini and his para table tennis team set a new record for the nation’s gold medal history with their incredible performance.
Satini took a moment to express his gratitude to his family for their support and gave his parents special recognition as he experienced a golden success in his debut appearance at this year’s Pacific Games.
“Without my parents, I could not have completed this. I’m grateful for my parents,” he told RAW SPORTS. “My parents gave me a lot of encouragement to pursue the sport. Every time I play the game, they sometimes seem happy, and they always give me encouragement to play well.”
“I feel happy and proud to win a gold medal for my country, myself, and those who came here to support me,” Satini said, reflecting on his gold medal victory. Ever since I began training and competing in the sport, my goal has been to take home a gold medal. I’m also winning a gold medal for the first time.
The 22-year-old previously competed in the Oceania Para Table competition in Brisbane, Australia, in 2022. With encouragement from his parents and coaches, he continued from that point on.
“I had never participated in a major regional competition before. I’ve been inspired to perform better and concentrate on my competition events by playing in front of my home crowd. Playing in front of my home crowd makes me feel comfortable. In order to defeat my opponent, I also feel like using a few strategies that I pick up from my coaches,” Satini said.
Satini is the only male among the three sisters in the family.
