After the ceremony, we were fortunate enough to interview one of the Chuuk Women's Basketball Team players, who will be playing in the Micro Games for the first time.
Sylvia "Dikki" Elias is a 23 year-old athlete born and raised in Madolenihmw, Pohnpei, but will be playing for team Chuuk.
"Already, people in Pohnpei are upset about me playing sports for another state" she said. "[H]owever, I will never give up." She proudly said that because of these two very significant reasons: her grandfather is from Chuuk, and she has a lot of Chuukese friends back at the University of Guam where she is currently attending. Her friends also happen to be her teammates back in Guam and they asked her to join their team.
Even though she is facing criticism and discrimination for being a Pohnpeian in a Chuukese team, her advice to all future Micro Game hopefuls is to "Never give up... believe in yourself... even if you were born and raised on an island, playing for another island, don't worry about it, don't give up, stay strong, and show good sportsmanship."
By Elymore Manuel & Aiesha-Laine Santos
Last Modified on 20/07/2014 20:57