‘Mission accomplished is how Team Fiji women’s rugby 7s captain Rusila Nagasau described their bronze medal victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan in the past fortnight.
The Fiji women’s 7s team defeated Great Britain 21-12 in the third and fourth place playoffs to win the bronze medal.
Nagasau said the team set high goals ahead of the competition.
She said this was done to return faith and following into women’s rugby in the country.
Nagasau said their sacrifices paid off after finishing third in Tokyo, a vast improvement from the eighth place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I thank the team management for selecting us to represent the nation, all the sponsors and Government for helping us to reach Tokyo,” Nagasau said.
“We are proud of our achievement by bringing out our best during the Olympics. Before we went to Tokyo, there were two aims for us. One was to win the gold medal. We didn’t do that, but got the bronze instead.
“The second aim was to restore the pride for women’s rugby in Fiji. We did that so it is sort of a mission accomplished.”
The Fijiana 7s team players and management are spending their mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island in Nadi since their arrival last Wednesday.
Nagasau said they were eagerly awaiting the end of the quarantine period to join their families and loved ones.
“Being away from them for a long time, especially not saying goodbye to them in person was hard.
“It was a challenging moment. After spending time with our families it will be back to training. The next event is the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town.”
The 34-year-old said representing the nation at the Olympics was like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“For me to represent the country and also be the flag bearer and being there at the closing ceremony was really an honour,” Nagasau said.
Meanwhile, Government has set aside $1 million to commend the heroic efforts of the Fiji men’s and the Fiji women’s 7s teams in the Olympic Games.
Rugby, which recorded its second outing in the history of the games has won three medals, two gold and a bronze.
Fiji also participated in swimming, sailing, athletics, table tennis and judo.
Team Fiji members had returned after competing in the Olympic Games in Japan.
