Boxers bag 3 bronze, 2 silver
The Fiji junior and youth boxers have returned with three bronze and two silver medals after their outing at the Oceania Boxing Confederation championship Junior and Youth Oceania Boxing Championship on May 22-25 in Apia, Samoa. Speaking to SUNsports, manager Jeremaia Buinimasi said Fiji was represented by seven boxers, six of whom were men and one woman. “There were six men and one woman; there were three juniors and four youths. The lone female boxer (Jasmine Daunakamakama) was in the youth category,” Buinimasi said.
Local competitions have resumed as part of their preparatory programme in preparation for the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands at the end of this year.
“We’ll be having our trials soon, the dates are yet to be confirmed,” he added.
Amateur Fiji Boxing manager Jeremaia Buinimasi said the junior and youth tournament was the first for Fijian boxers to take part in.
“We went to Samoa and managed to get some medals. We are thankful to the Fiji Amateur Boxing Association
(FABA) and also the parents for their support,” he said. Buinimasi revealed that the parents had payed for the boxers’ airfare to Samoa.
“We had to do our own fundraising and get the boxers across but still we managed to get some medals,” he said.
Buinimasi said they worked with the parents to fundraise for the boxer’s air tickets except for two boxers who sought assistance from Fiji Association of Sport & National Olympic committee (FASANOC). “The fundraising was just for the airfares, it was a normal Kati fundraising as it was a short time so we couldn’t do a lot,” he said.
“There is a need to have more boxing competitions for the junior and youth boxers.
“We are inviting kids and youths out there who might be interested in boxing to come and try the sport,” he added.
Results: Jasmine Daunakamakama – Silver (63-66kg) youth category, Taniela Vatucoko – silver (6770kg) youth category, Steven Ledua – bronze (63-66kg) junior category, Joe Nesta Kolitapa – Bronze (6063kg) junior category, Alvin Reddy – bronze (48-51kg) youth category.