Two top sports medalists from Taiwan are here to train Palauan’s athletes in the sports of Weightlifting and Wrestling. Yesterday, the Palau National Olympic Committee and the Palau Sports Federations welcomed the Olympian and World Champion in Weightlifting, Hsu, Shu-Ching and Taiwan Judo Champion Lin Zhaniun. The two top medalists will be training Palauan’s athletes in preparation for the upcoming regional sports competitions, with eyes set on the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.
“These people are here to help us prepare for the upcoming games…Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon, this year, Micronesian Games in Marshall Islands next year, and Pacific Mini-Games in 2025 in Palau. This is one of the strands in our march toward the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane,” said Palau National Olympic Committee President Frank Kyota in his welcome remarks.
PNOC President Kyota urged the coaches and the athletes to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the high-level coaching talents to improve their skills to the next level.
“These are the building blocks…take them seriously, build yourselves and our athletes, and let’s move together toward Brisbane 2023 (Olympics),” added Kyota.
In addition to the top-tiered coaches brought to Palau sponsored by the Republic of China, Taiwan, athletes from different sporting federations are being sent to Taiwan to be trained at their top sporting colleges and facilities. Palau’s archery athletes and swimming team will be going to Taiwan to be trained at Taiwan Sports University. For archery, the President of the University is an Olympian Archery Silver medalist.
PNOC President Kyota expressed gratitude on behalf of PNOC and the Sports Federations to the Republic of China-Taiwan through Her Excellency Ambassador Jessica C. Lee for their generous support to Palau’s athletes, regaling the value of the partnership between the two countries, Palau and the Republic of China, Taiwan.
“Our role is to foster people-to-people exchanges, and sports is our common language. Sports inspire us; sports unify us,” expressed Her Excellency Ambassador Jessica Lee, citing the Omal Marathon as an example.
“As mentioned by the President of PNOC, this is the one step, and we will have many steps ahead, and we will walk together…to victory,” Ambassador Lee stressed to the coaches and athletes at the welcoming event.