BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE Solomon Islands Amateur Boxing Federation President says they are confident to win gold medals when they step inside the ring at the Pacific Games 2023, set for November in Honiara.
Patrick Morris told RAW SPORTS that with the high level of physical and tactical training provided under the guidance of overseas and national experts at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) Complex, they are highly motivated and keen to taste gold medal success at this year’s prestigious regional sporting event in the country.
“Definitely, without doubt, we are eager to maximize the country’s chances to collect gold medals when we compete in the 10 different weight classes at this year’s Pacific Games,’’ Morris said.
The amateur boxing weight classes are light flyweight, flyweight, bantamweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, cruiserweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, and super heavyweight.
He said with the current good level of preparation, they hope to raise the country’s flag at this year’s multi-sport event in Honiara.
“We have around 50 plus boxers, which includes both male and female athletes in the current training team.
“It’s a big number and they are trained under the supervision of boxing coaches, trainers, and specialists aimed to sharpen their tactical skill, strength, power, accuracy, fitness, nutrition, mental and other boxing workouts and drills,” the Solomon Islands Amateur Boxing Federation (SIABF) President said.
Likewise, Patrick said that the current boxing training squad will also travel to Australia for more scheduled training and competitions as part of their continuing preparations ahead of the Pacific Games in Honiara.
“At the end of the month (May), selected boxers are expected to travel to Gold Coast in Australia for three weeks of training and competition to prepare for the OCBC Oceania Boxing Championships 2023 set for July in Wellington, New Zealand.
“Such outings are vital in terms of our preparations especially to measure our strength, and find out where we are,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the President said the names of selected boxers to represent the country at this year’s Pacific Games will be released in September.
“The process to finalize the national boxing squad will feature scheduled fights; boxers scoring high points in the planned scheduled boxing competition will be named in the final national boxing squad that will comprise 25 boxers – 13 males and 12 females.
“May I urge our amateur boxers to work hard based on these three pillars – spiritual, physical fitness, and mental skills.
“Through these pillars, I am confident we will win gold medals at the upcoming Pacific Games 2023 in Honiara,” he said.
