It runs in the family and he is happy to continue the tradition passed down from his grandfather and father to him, and he aims to make it to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
For 20-year-old Tevita Takayawa, winning a bronze medal at the Oceania Championship in Tonga last week was a big step towards achieving greater things in the sport of judo.
The Tovu, Totoya, Lau lad won gold in the junior men’s championship and while participating in the men’s category he won a bronze medal with Australia taking gold and New Zealand settling for silver.
Tevita’s father Nacanieli and late grandfather Viliame both represented Fiji in judo at the Olympic Games.
Tevita, who is studying Business Law at Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan said it hasn’t been an easy ride for him as he tries to juggle studying and training.
“I was offered a scholarship for four years to study in Japan and I am thankful for this opportunity. For me it’s training every day, morning and afternoon and just studying during the day and I take Sunday off. The competition is getting tougher every year and the Oceania Championship is one of the main tournaments where all top judo athletes come to participate.
“Participating in these big tournaments is a bit nerve-recking, but with strong support and good training it’s exciting and a big challenge. It’s a tough competition when you have New Zealand and Australia and to stand beside these two countries receiving our medals, I know one day I will win that gold,” he said.
His family, he said, was the reason he kept striving for the best.
“My family has been in this sport for a very long time and the dream to win gold in the Commonwealth Games which my family have won for the past years.
“The next target now is the Olympics in Tokyo and I am blessed to have my family supporting me.
Tevita started judo at the age of four.
The former student of Suva Grammar School said the joy of being in this sport was the places that he had visited.
“I’ve visited five countries and one of the countries that I never dreamt of visiting was Kazakhstan and this sport had taken me to other countries I’ve never dreamt of stepping foot on.
“Now I am looking forward to Budapest for the World Judo Championships at the end of August. It’s a big event, and the top three athletes from all the countries will be participating in that event, so this is my first step to greater things,” he said.
Tevita reminded all young people that good things come to those who wait and if you want to be successful in life, you have to sweat for it.
“Make your goals and focus and work towards them. No pain no gain, no retreat, no surrender,” he said.
