BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
THE Solomon Islands Taekwondo Federation (SITF) has farewelled three athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships, scheduled for March 28–29, 2026, in Sydney.
Federation President Joses Dudley confirmed the team’s departure yesterday.
He told SunSPORTS that the athletes are accompanied by coach Junior Maetia, who has overseen their preparation over the past several months.
Dudley expressed both pride and excitement about the team’s participation, despite the challenges faced during their preparation.
“I am so happy,” he said.
He reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to regional and international competition.
“We will never give up representing Solomon Islands in both regional and international arenas, because we love our country,” Dudley added.
The team consists of two male athletes, Nicholas Sulumae and Fred Valentina, along with female athlete Erika Jean. All three will compete in the senior division.
The championships will be hosted at the Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool, Sydney. This World Taekwondo G-4 ranked event will feature Cadet, Junior, Senior, and Mixed Gender Team Kyorugi categories, and serves as an important pathway for preparation towards the 2027 Pacific Games and 2028 Olympic Games.
Photo credit: Joses Dudley
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