BY JOY OFASIA
OVER the years, the participation of the Solomon Islands women’s beach volleyball athletes in both regional and international competitions has made headlines on the back pages of local newspapers.
This year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England has allowed the country’s most passionate beach volleyball player, Hanna Donga to again compete against the other top beach volleyball athletes from around the Commonwealth realm.
Hanna, 23, from Malaita province is not new to the sports of volleyball, she was raised in a family of active sportswomen who has mastered and competed in the different codes of volleyball in Honiara.
“When I was a child, my first cousin sister, Rose Gwali, who is now my playing partner in the national beach volleyball squad and Arasina volleyball club, would often accompany my mum [a passionate volleyball player] to every local indoor volleyball training session and competition.
“I love playing the sport of volleyball. I started playing outdoor volleyball when I was 12 years old. Later my interest shifted into playing the code of beach volleyball,” Hanna recalled.
The young enthusiastic beach volleyballer has a wealth of experience in both codes of volleyball (both outdoor beach volleyball and indoor). She had recently represented the Solomon Islands in the beach volleyball competitions at the 2022 Mini Pacific Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Hanna still has a strong sense of connection with her mother as both are active members of the popular indoor volleyball champions, Arasina Club.
“My Mother and I play are currently playing indoor volleyball with the Arasina Volley Club,” she said.
Hanna’s mother, Hellen Sate Donga, said she is proud of her daughter’s passion and contribution towards representing the country in both local and overseas competitions and more especially to play alongside her daughter in the domestic indoor volleyball competitions.
“I am always happy for my daughter and also to be in the same team. With her presence in the team, she makes me proud and always happy to be playing beside her as a teammate and daughter,” she told Solomon Women.
