From the athletics tracks to the football field, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School’s (MGM) rising star Lydia Waqairapoa is proving that raw talent can shine in more than one sport.
Known as the Intermediate Girls sprint queen, the Year 12 student is now making waves at the Extra Fiji Secondary School Championship, representing the MGM Open Girls football team.
But what makes her story remarkable is that she has already caught the eye of Fiji Kulas head coach Angeline Chua, earning a place in the extended squad for the Fiji U19 women’s trials in three weeks’ time.
For Waqairapoa, football started as just a fun activity.
“I was surprised to be in the football team because I only played rugby. When our coach asked me if I could join the team, I just said yes,” she recalled with a laugh.
“Now I feel happy to be showing my talent and grateful to the school for the opportunity,” Waqairapoa said.
This year’s championship is only her second, after debuting in Nadi last year. The Ba experience, she says, has been eye-opening and filled with learning moments.
Originally from Taveuni, Waqairapoa’s natural pace from sprinting has translated perfectly onto the football field, making her one to watch both in athletics and in women’s football.
As she blazes down the tracks and charges through defenders on the pitch, Fiji may just be witnessing the rise of a future dual-sport star.