REPRESENTING Fiji at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal is an opportunity Zara Suka never imagined would arrive so soon.
The young basketballer, who hails from Naikeleyaga, Kabara in Lau is excited to take the court on the international stage and hopes to help Fiji make its mark at the Games.
“It just feels so surreal to me that we’re going to the Olympics,” Suka said.
The young lass started playing the sport at six years old and her prowess of the sport has also grown since.
With preparations progressing well, she said the team was building its understanding of one another and working hard towards the competition.
The players are also aiming high, with a medal among their ambitions, although Suka knows that giving their best effort will be just as important.
“We hope to get a medal when we’re there, but we just want to play our best and try our hardest,” she said.
Suka is not completely new to playing alongside her teammates, having joined them at last year’s Under-17 Oceania competition
However, preparing for the three-side format has brought a different challenge, requiring players to adjust their approach from the traditional five-a-side game.
She said the training sessions had been valuable in helping the team learn the drills, improve their combinations and become more comfortable playing together.
Away from basketball, Suka has another responsibility to manage.
As a student, balancing her schoolwork with training has been challenging, particularly when preparation requires her to spend time away from school while keeping up with her grades.
She also recognises that staying mentally strong is important when things do not go as planned during training.
“If I have a bad training session, I might feel down, but I know that I’ve got to move on and just keep going,” she said.
Through those challenges, the encouragement of her family, friends and coaches has remained an important source of motivation.
Suka said their support had helped her pursue the opportunity to represent Fiji, something she described as amazing.
She extended her thanks to those who had stood by her throughout her journey, both at home in Australia and in Fiji.
As the countdown to Dakar continues, Suka is focused on making the most of the experience, learning from the competition and giving everything she can for her country.
For the young athlete, the goal is clear: take the opportunity with confidence, work hard alongside her teammates and strive to bring home a medal for Fiji.
The 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal will kick off on October 30 and ends on November 13.
Zara Suka in action during the FIBA U15 Oceania Cup 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Picture: BASKETBALL ILLAWARRA via INSTAGRAM
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