Island Times

With confirmation for Palau to join 23countries at the Pacific Games in Honiara Solomon Islands this November 19 to December 2, 2023, Palau Team will be sending nine (9) sports down to Solomon Islands for the Games. Teams confirmed to go are Athletics, Archery, Beach Volleyball,3×3 Basketball, Va’a Canoe/Kayak, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Weightlifting.

The final cut for the team has been completed, with registration to the Games closed and, with total Team Palau athletes, coaches and officials to the Games close to one hundred. In the preparation to the Games, Palau NOC has been engaging with Taiwan Sports Administration, Taiwan Embassy, Palau, and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC), and Palau swim team have completed a one-week training in Taipei and have returned home.  The Archery athletes are also taking in training in Taipei until November 8^th.   Through Taiwan Sports Administration and Taiwan Embassy, Palau two high level coaches are also here in Palau training the Judo Team and Weightlifting Team to the Games.  The Taiwan two times Gold Medalist of London 2012 and Rio 2016 and Weightlifting Coach Ms. Hsu, Shu-Ching aka Coach Jesse, and  Judo Coach Lin Zhanlun aka Coach Bill.  Both coaches are here until November helping the teams and providing high performances training to both Weightlifting and Judo Teams before the Team leaves to Pacific Games in November.

With the Taiwan Sports Administration strong support of Director Administrator Dr. Cheng, the Swimming Team members travelled to Taipei and trained at the 50m pool with National Taiwan Sports University coaches and students. The swimmers were Ms. Momilani Isikl Polloi, Ms. Ungilreng Lisa Ruluked, Ms. Taira Balii Tellei Kishigawa, Mr. Jion Hosei, Mr. Kazuumi Nestor, and their Coach Mr. Jimmy Jonas. These swimmers, plus the senior swimmers, have great potential in the Pacific Games, and to the podium at Micronesian Games and the 2025 Pacific Games hosted in Palau.

The Archers in Taipei are Mr. Brandon Bausoch Giramur, Mr. Kenic Edward, Mr. Christopher Ongerung, and Ms. Zena Kulialang Rengulbai. The last female Archer Ms. Melvira K. Kazuma will join the team on October 25 and return also on November 8th.

Team Palau 23 to the Pacific Games are meeting weekly to update teams needs and now at final phase  of Team travel plans, health and safety mandates for the teams, uniforms fittings, and what is expected of the Teams coaches, managers, and athletes in the next month as we prepare to depart to the games, at the games and when the Team returns home.

Palau NOC and sports federations extends appreciation the Office of the President and Congress in supporting team Palau budget to the Games, plus Palau Community College for providing space for weightlifters to train, to all the Teams, coaches, and athletes for their commitment to the games, the families of the athletes and coaches for their support, and finally the national government, sponsors, partners, States government for their support to Team Palau ’23 Pacific Games.  For more information and updates about Team Palau to the Pacific Games in Honiara Solomon Islands, please contact the Palau NOC Office at 488-6562 and talk to Marcy Andrew and/or Stephanie Ngirchoimei.