Being part of the Fiji Taekwondo team is a dream come true for 18-year-old Naitasi

Being part of the Fiji Taekwondo team is a dream come true for 18-year-old Lolohea Foana Navuga Naitasi.

The Year-12 student of Suva Grammar School says growing up, she had always wanted to take up the sport as she had been following it from a very young age.

Naitasi says the sport interests her as well especially where they get to learn self-defence.

She says she is always motivated by the senior athletes in the team and she always looks up to them in terms of trying to improve her skills.

Originally from Daku village in Nakelo, Tailevu, the young athlete is looking to help her team secure a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics later this year for the first time ever.

Naitasi is part of a training camp in the Solomon Islands funded by World Taekwondo as they prepare to take part in the Olympics qualifier in April.

Naitasi says her goal this year is to train harder and get a spot in the team for the Olympic qualifier.

She says there is still a lot to improve on, but she is looking forward to the training in the next two weeks.

She adds competition is really tough as well within the team but she is focused on the task ahead.