Solomon Islands National Para Athletes competing at the Paris Paralympics this year ended their competition on Sunday night with defeats in their respective events.
For the first time, Solomon Islands Para athletes embarked on a journey at the highest level of competition in their careers with defeats but instead create history.
Its understood a total of four athletes represented the country at the Paris Paralympics.
Three of them competed in Para-Taekwondo and one competes in Para-Athletics – Javelin.
Female Para-Taekwondo, Junita Tonowane debuted, representing the Solomon Islands in the Women’s 65kg where she faced Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing in the Women’s 65kg division and was defeated 25-0 at the Grand Palais.
Male Para-Taekwondo athlete, Solomon Jagiri was up against Iran’s Sadeghianpour Saeid in the Men’s 63kg Round of 16 and lost with a score of 28-2.
Before James Gegeu was up against Ramazanov Aliaskhab of Russia in the Men’s 80kg category and lost with a score of 16-0.
While Cosmol Maefolia debuted, representing the Solomon Islands in the Men’s F38 Javelin at Stade de France and achieved a season-best throw of 25.62 meters but finished last in his event.
These results in their first ever Paralympics debuts ends the Solomon Islands campaign in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
By FLOYD TERRY JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
