BY ROMULUS HUTA
MEDAL hopeful Jenlyn Wini will be the country’s official flag bearer for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next month.
Wini has been elected for the role during a ‘One Team Solomon’ meeting held at the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) conference room yesterday afternoon.
Members of Solomon Islands contingent for Gold Coast took part in the secret-ballot voting which saw other three nominees contesting alongside Wini.
They were female distance runner Sharon Firisua, weightlifter David Gorosi and 17 year old female swimmer Angella Charles.
In a close contested voting, Wini polled a total of six votes ahead of Firisua who got four votes. Gorosi and Charles received three votes each.
NOCSI President Martin Rara congratulated Wini and thanked the nominees who ran for the flag-bearer’s role.
Rara said Wini will share her responsibility with second-placed Firisua.
“Wini will carry flag during the opening ceremony while Firisua will be given the opportunity for the closing ceremony.”
Rara explained that Wini deserves the role based on her record of performance, admitting it as a right choice.
“Being a flag bearer is a honourable thing for an athlete as it comes with a lot of responsibility.
“That will go down into the history of Jenlyn as an athlete,” he said.
This will be the fifth time that Wini will shoulder the role as the flag bearer.
She was also the flag bearer during the London 2012 Olympic Games, Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games.
Solomon Islands have competed at eight Commonwealth Games, making a first-time appearance at the 1982 edition hosted in Brisbane, Australia.
While the country did not send a team to the 1986 event, Solomon Islands have appeared at every Games since 1990.
Looking through the archives, no athlete from the Solomon Islands has ever won a Commonwealth medal.
Rara added that Wini is the country’s medal hopeful in Gold Coast.
“Being the current commonwealth champions in the women’s 58kg category, she stands a good chance of winning a medal at the Games.
“If she gets one, this could go down as a history for Solomon Islands. We have never won a medal in the Commonwealth Games.”
Wini and fellow country team mate Mary Lifu Kini are currently training at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute based in Noumea, New Caledonia.
The duo will join the rest of the Solomon Islands Contingent in Australia ahead of the games’ kick off on April 4.
