FORMER Pacific sprint king Samu Yavala was yesterday inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame.
Yavala who held several regional and national athletics records, some of which stood for more than 20 years was elated with the induction.
Yesterday, the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) made the announcement in Suva. The Hall of Fame acknowledges and honours Fiji’s super athletes who for over 65 years have competed in Fiji and abroad against the best in the world.
“I’m so thankful to FASANOC for recognising the efforts of us athletes back in the 1970s,” he said.
“During our days when we compete, we did it for fun.
“We did it to competed against ourselves and bring out the best within us. We represented our country with pride and to be inducted into Fiji’s Hall of Fame should be a challenge to the sport.”
Yavala said he did not expect to be inducted. However, he challenges the present generation of athletes to raise the bar to another level.
He added the opportunity in sport had given him a lot of benefits.
FASANOC’s Lorraine Mar said Yavala deserved the recognition for his contribution towards sports in Fiji.
Yavala first represented Fiji at the 1969 South Pacific Games at the age of 21.
Since the inaugural of the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, 37 super athletes have been recognised for the glory and fame they brought to themselves, their sport and the country.
The 2014 Fiji Sports Hall of Fame and Fiji Olympic Order Dinner will be celebrated on November 21 at the Novotel Hotel in Lami, outside Suva.
