Seventeen-year-old Merewalesi Kolitapa is gearing up to proudly represent Fiji in the Youth Olympic boxing qualifiers next month in Bangkok, Thailand. To facilitate her journey, Kolitapa is actively fundraising through a GoFundMe campaign.
Currently a student at Sigatoka Methodist College, Kolitapa has made significant sacrifices in her training regimen, rising at 4 AM for dedicated training sessions while following a strict diet plan. This discipline has allowed her to successfully shed weight, dropping from 66.7 kg to 60 kg to qualify for her boxing category.
While she faces financial hurdles, Kolitapa remains focused on her training and is optimistic about the support from her community. “My foster parents from Australia are running a GoFundMe for me, and with local sponsorships, we’ve raised around $700. However, I still need assistance to cover travel, accommodation, and equipment to ensure my trip goes smoothly,” she noted.
Besides her crowdfunding efforts, a local law firm has generously committed to providing her with sports gear, which will enhance her preparation for the competition. With an ambitious goal of raising $3,000, Kolitapa has collected about $740 so far.
If everything goes as planned, she is poised to depart Fiji on March 1 and will arrive in Bangkok by March 5, eagerly anticipating her chance to compete and showcase her talents on the international stage. The community’s support could prove instrumental in helping her pursue her aspirations in boxing, embodying a spirit of resilience and determination.