Thirteen-year-old Sofia Kinikinilau has earned herself a week-long stint at the Oceania Weightlifting Academy in New Caledonia after winning a talent identification program held in Levuka.
Weightlifting Fiji development officer Josefa Vueti said Kinikinilau had proven to be the best candidate out of more than 400 participants.
“The competition was held for a month, depending on when the students were available.
“It involved students from both primary and secondary schools around Ovalau and some from Marist Brothers High School. She had shown her potential and was the best logical choice from the country to participate at the event,” he said.
Kinikinilau said she was excited for the opportunity as she dreamt of being a suitable candidate for national representation in the future.
“I am very happy and looking forward to the trip. This is a great opportunity for me because this is what I want to do in the future,” she said.
Although from Tokou Village Kinikinilau has been committed to her training and has been camping with the rest of the high performance team in Baba settlement, a stone’s throw away from the sports’ high performance gym.
The Oceania Talent Identification Program (OTIP) is held in all regional countries with each nation selecting the best competitor to New Caledonia.
“The participants will have another week of training before they have a competition at the end of next month,” Vueti said.
Courtesy of: Fiji Times