Training a level higher than he normally would in previous athletics meets is what young Team Fiji discus athlete Tyrone Ali has described his preparation for the Pacific Mini Games in Palau at the end of this month.
Ali, a Suva Grammar School student, is competing in the men’s discus event and highlighted how different his training had become following his inclusion in the national contingent to Palau.
“Training right now is a bit harder than Cokes, because we usually do more heavier gym (sessions) now just to get to the standards of people older than you,” Ali mentioned.
Another point he mentioned was the search of areas or facilities to train and the support and encouragement extended by his coaches has been a boost for him.
“And training now, we also have to find our own places to go and throw because we’re not throwing in the stadium,” he said.
“Having our coaches by our side is actually a positive way of training more positively.”
As the Mini Games get closer, he acknowledged the pressure setting in leading up to it has been manageable.
“I’ve been throwing since form four (year 10), because in form four and form five (year 11), I really did feel the pressure,” he mentioned.
“But ever since I came to (Suva) Grammar, my coaches helped me to overcome it, because in every competition that I’ve attended, they’ve also given me the mindset to put it in a competitive level.”
He has also had to balance his training with his studies, something he has to do at a manageable rate since he lives in Nausori and makes the long commute from home to Suva Grammar School for classes every morning.
Meanwhile, he is looking forward to the games and what it will bring when he walks out onto the field in Palau.
“I am very excited and determined, because my aim right now is just to win a medal because my aim is also for Palau, that medal and for the Oceania Cup, at the end of this year,” he highlighted.
“For my fellow athletes, my family and friends, I will do my best in preparing myself for the Palau Games.”
Meanwhile, in the Coca-Cola Games in April this year, he won gold in the senior boys discus throw 1.75kg event with a throw of 45.78m.
