Solomon Islands coaches and para-athlete complete world archery coaching course in Tonga, bringing home new skills
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Archery Federation of Solomon Islands is set to receive a significant boost in para-archery development after two national coaches and a para-athlete successfully completed an international coaching course in Tonga.
According to a statement shared by the Archery Federation of Solomon Islands, coaches Andrew Lano and Janet Saru, alongside para-archer Rose Lidia, successfully completed the five-day World Archery Para Coaching Course held in Tonga from July 15 to 19.
The federation said the intensive programme combined both classroom theory and practical sessions, equipping participants with essential knowledge and coaching techniques tailored for para-archery.
“The five-day intensive training course combined theory and practical sessions, equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills in para-archery coaching, including the design and creation of adaptive equipment to support archers with different abilities,” the statement said.
As part of the course, participants also applied their newly acquired skills by designing and conducting a friendly competition known as the Oceania Para Archery League (OPAL), with the aim to create a level playing field for athletes of different abilities.
“The coaches designed a unique competition called OPAL (Oceania Para Archery League), which challenged every archer while ensuring a level playing field for all participants,” the federation said.
The competition also produced encouraging results for Solomon Islands, with Rose Lidia finishing second to claim the silver medal. Fiji’s Leslie won gold, while Vanuatu’s Jeffery secured the bronze medal.
The federation said the Solomon Islands delegation is scheduled to return home on Wednesday, bringing with them valuable knowledge, practical experience and modern coaching techniques expected to contribute to the continued growth and development of para-archery in the country.
The World Archery Para Coaching Course brought together coaches and para-athletes from across the Oceania region to strengthen coaching capacity and promote greater inclusion in archery.
For Solomon Islands, the successful completion of the programme marks another positive step to build opportunities for athletes living with disabilities while expanding the country’s coaching expertise in para-archery.
Photo credit: Archery Federation of Solomon Islands
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