DESPITE competing at the Fiji Finals for the first time, Sakiusa Sokotukivei of Naiyala High School managed to bag a gold medal in the senior boys shot put yesterday.
The 19-year-old threw a distance of 13.29 metres in the final, a huge improvement from his 11.63m throw during the Tailevu Zone last month.
Sokotukivei said his target coming to the Fiji Finals was to win the school’s first gold medal.
“Since the beginning of the year when I started training, I made a goal to win the first gold medal for Naiyala here at the Fiji Finals,” the Lauan lad said.
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School’s George Satakala bagged a silver with a distance of 13.25m while Suva Grammar School’s Iliesa Turaganivalu scooped a bronze with a distance of 13.04m.
“My performance at the zone meet wasn’t that good, but I kept working with whatever time I had left before the Fiji Finals started,” Sokotukivei said.
The Year 13 student dedicated his medal to his mother who was cheering from the grass embankment at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
“I dedicate this win to my mother because she came all the way from Navua to come support me here today.”
Sokotukivei said he only started taking up the sport this year, and to be able to win a medal in his first year competing was a huge achievement.
“Training hasn’t been easy but nothing comes easy in life.”
He said his ultimate goal for the Fiji Finals was to prove to his fellow students of Naiyala Secondary School that anything is possible.
“I wanted to prove to my colleagues that even the smaller schools in the tournament can do greater things.
“So I hope this achievement of mine has encouraged students of other small schools that anything is possible, we just need to work hard for it.”
