Hockey teams paid courtesy call to MHA to say thanks

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MEMBERS of the national under-18 men and women’s hockey teams paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Home Affairs to thank them for support rendered to them during their participation at the recent Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers.

The qualifiers were held last week at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Solomon Islands participated in the event with both the women’s and the men’s teams.

The qualifying tournament is part of the qualification pathway for this year’s Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Argentina in October.

During the visit yesterday, the youth teams were received by the MHA Permanent Secretary George Palua.

The men’s under-18 team captain Linford Talosui thanked the government through the ministry responsible for sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs for the financial assistance rendered toward their participation.

“We are humbled with the support we have received from the government. We have tried our best and the bronze medal was the result we ended up with.

“We are proud ambassadors and will be always be honoured to carry our flag whenever we represent Solomon Islands in future international competitions,” he said.

Members of the Solomon Islands hockey teams who participated in the recent Oceania Youth Qualifiers in PNG last
week during a visit yesterday to the Ministry of Home Affairs office thanking them for the support rendered to them
by the government. PICTURE: ROMULUS HUTA.

On the same note, the women’s under-18 captain Claudia Votu said the assistance given by the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has enabled them to play to their best.

“We are thrilled by the assistance and are thankful for the support. Our visit to your office is basically just to thank you for your assistance,” Ms Votu told Palua.

The men’s under-18 won a bronze a medal and that was enough to them to earn a spot for the event scheduled to run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires.

The women’s under-18 team finished in fourth place and missed out on qualification.

The spot won by the men’s under-18 will be confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) when they lodge their final submission to the Organisers of the Summer Youth Games come August 31 deadline.

This is due to the limited quota where only a few team sports will be eligible to represent each participating country at the world event.

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