Jioji Nasova, a member of Team Fiji’s men’s rugby sevens, is set to make his debut in the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11. Nasova made his first appearance in the HSBC SVNS series this year, becoming the only new player in the squad.
For the 23-year-old athlete, his first major play at the Hong Kong Sevens holds a unique significance. “My career started in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Madrid,” Nasova informed SUNsports. He expressed gratitude to his coaches for their confidence in him, which has led to the opportunity to represent Fiji in the prestigious Olympic competition.
“We, the selected representatives of Fiji for the Paris Olympics, have been preparing intensively to defend the gold medal. Fiji achieved consecutive victories, and we aim to secure a third gold medal,” Nasova shared.
A native of Toge in Ba, Nasova also played for Beijing RC under a one-year contract in 2023. He was scouted while playing for the Dominion Brothers. “After participating in the Suva 10s, I was noticed by a coach from China, leading to my professional contract,” Nasova explained.
Before making his mark in rugby, Nasova was a student at Toge Primary School, Nukuloa College, and Ba Provincial Freebird Institute, where he played rugby league. However, this phase ended quickly when he got selected to participate in the Skipper Cup competition for Naitasiri Under-20.