Friday, August 17, 2007
SHEER determination will see the new-look Fiji Judo team to the upcoming Samoa Games go a step higher.
With 16 gold medals at stake, the 21-member team consisting of a mixture of the old hands and the new caps, is gunning for an improved performance from the 2003 South Pacific Games.
Heavy weight judoka champion Nacanieli Takayawa is confident of a positive outing for their new reps.
"We have three students in the team and blended with the experience of the Japanese-based students, I think we'd like to maintain or do better than what we achieved in 2003," he said.
"We have seven judokas that will be in a competition for the first time in the SPG and we want to build them up for future outings," he said.
"We've been preparing the team since last year but the final selection was done during the Fiji Games in May this year," he said.
While the trip will be an opportune time to showcase their new finds, Takayawa said determination will play a key role in their overall performance.
"Apart from our physical preparations, we've also been working on our mental preparations to ensure that players are bold enough to take the stage," he said.
The selected squad of 23 was further trimmed to 21.
In the squad are Japan-based judokas Vani Kelekeleivalu, Sisilia Nasiga and Josateki Naulu.
The team has been camping at the Judo Centre based at the Nabua Secondary School in Suva.
Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Sisilia Nasiga will lead Fiji's charge in the judo competition.
Ranked number one in their respective grades in the Oceania region, Nasiga will be using the Pacific Games as a build-up to her Olympic qualifiers.
To qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Nasiga needs to top the points at the World Championships in Brazil in September, the Oceania Open in Perth, Australia in November and the Oceania Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Apart from Nasiga, Oceania's top male judoka in the -81 kilograms Josateki Naulu, will also be out to grab a medal.
Naulu is also aiming to qualify for the Olympics and accompany Nasiga to the international meets.
The team will is coached by former Fiji judo champion Viliame Takayawa.
The SPG begins on August 25 and ends on September 8.FONTE: Fiji Times - Suva, Fiji
FONTE: Fiji Times - Suva, Fiji
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