BY JOY OFASIA
ATLETE Evita Sogavare of the Solomon Islands hopes to compete for the first time in the V1 500-meter sprint event of the Outrigger canoeing competition at the XVII Pacific Games 2023 in Honiara.
The only member of Team Solomons to compete in the 500-meter V1 is Evita Sogavare.
She was upbeat about her first-ever national representation at the XVII Pacific Games in Honiara in 2023.
“I started training for Va’a four months ago; it’s a new sport in the Solomon Islands.
“Paddling a canoe is not new to me as a Solomon Islander; in fact, it is one of the main modes of transportation used by islanders to get from one island to another in our rural areas.
“I am happy to be participating in this sport and am looking forward to the Games as I continue with my preparations,” Evita told RAW SPORTS.
Despite having only trained for four months, she stated that she is confident in her ability to compete, even though this will be her first time participating in the major event.
Evita stated, “I am confident and hopeful that I am capable of winning a medal because I have prepared well and am excited about it.”
She expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped her during her rigorous training.
“I want to thank my coach for all of her help during this time. She has supported us financially out of her own pocket, which has been really helpful. For the love of my country, I will do everything in my power to show her how much I appreciate her dedication to us and our training,” the Va’a athlete said.
The XVII Pacific Games 2023 begin from November 19 to December 2 in Honiara.
