BY TONY IROGA
The Solomon Islands archery squad is ramping up preparations ahead of the 2026 Oceania Cup, set to take place in Fiji in September, with athletes and officials confident of making a strong impression on the regional stage.
The national team, under the guidance of the Solomon Islands Archery Federation, has been undergoing intensive test in a recent tournament in New Zealand, focusing on sharpening shooting accuracy, mental discipline, and overall competition readiness as they prepare to face some of the Pacific’s top archers.
Speaking to Island Sun yesterday Ms Geogina Lepping said their team has shown steady progress in recent Oceania championship tournament from April 16- 19- this month and remains committed to representing the country with pride.
“With Janet and Robson successfully graduating the Level 2 coach course, this gives us the opportunity to support new clubs and the growth of Archery as a whole,” she said.
She said archery Solomon Islands squad competed in regional archery event to ensure that they are active and also for their athletes to continue experiencing competition level in archery.
“The federation registered the 2 athletes Janet and Robson for the coaching course, as part of our plan to grow and build archery in the country,” she said.
She said the squad hopes to get a para-archer ready for the upcoming tournament and calls on anyone interested to support this unique sport to reach out to them, as they continue gearing up for the upcoming Pacific Games.
She added that the federation is also working on long-term development programs to nurture young archers and strengthen the sport nationwide.
“We have been working closely with our archers on consistency and focus, which are very important in this sport,” Lepping said.
She said the Oceania Cup will be a big challenge for them, but they are preparing well and aim to perform at their best.
“The squad includes a mix of experienced and emerging archers, with national representatives such as Margaret Melue for Barebow, Janet Saru for Recurve Bow, and Marissa Maisa for compound.
“This is a great opportunity for us to compete against some of the best archers in Oceania.
“We will continue our fundraising efforts to have access to more capacity building for our athletes and coaches,” Lepping said.
She said they are training hard every day and look forward to flying the Solomon Islands flag high in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Archery Federation President Lionel Puhimana, acknowledged the support from stakeholders and emphasised the importance of international exposure for local athletes.
He said Oceania Cup is an important pathway for archers to gain experience and improve their rankings.
“We are thankful for the support from partners and the community, which continues to help us develop the sport in the country,” he said.
The Oceania Cup is expected to attract top competitors from across the Pacific, providing a valuable platform for the Solomon Islands team to test their skills, gain exposure, and build confidence ahead of future international competitions.
“Shooting in cold and windy weather is a learning experience which is good so that our athletes are aware of different environment conditions.
“We only have two level 2 coaches. It’s been more than 6 years since the last course was taken. So, this is a major step towards our development plan.
“I hope our athletes prepare in advance in terms of finance and mentality and continue to train more to avoid shooting under pressure,” Lepping said.
She said their federation really supports the vision of growing the sport and is a driving force behind the team managing to send athletes to New Zealand and in supporting the two athletes in the coaching course.
Photo credit: Stefan Armbruster
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