Windsurfer Pince Hoga Out from Sailing Competition Due to Injuries
Solomon Islands windsurfer Pince Hoga did not complete his race due to injuries. The sailing events commenced this week, and Hoga, who initially held high hopes of representing his country in the sport, unfortunately sustained injuries that have forced him to step back from the competition.
Patrick Maelaua, the Sailing Competition Manager, said Hoga’s inability to compete effectively was due to his injuries. Another athlete from the Solomon Islands faced penalties during her race on Tuesday. Maelaua acknowledged that the strong wind conditions, coupled with high swells, have posed difficulties for some of the country’s athlete, but emphasized that the competition has proceeded as planned despite setbacks for Team Solomon.
In the sailing competition, seven countries, including the Solomon Islands, are participating. The other countries in contention are Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tahiti, and Wallis and Futuna. Maelaua encouraged the general public to visit the Umi Water Sports Park to show their support for the athletes participating in the sport. The finals for the first series are scheduled for this Saturday, with no entry fees required for access to the sports venue at Henderson. Despite Hoga out of the competition, the Sailing team still have athletes participating in the race for this week and next week’s series.