Seventeen-year-old Merewalesi Kolitapa is preparing to represent Fiji in the upcoming Youth Olympic boxing qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand, next month. As part of her journey, she has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise the necessary funds to support her athletic ambitions.
Kolitapa, a dedicated student at Sigatoka Methodist College, has been putting in the hard work, training early each morning and sticking to a strict diet regimen to drop from 66.7 kg to 60 kg to qualify for her weight division. Despite facing financial challenges, she remains committed to her training and hopeful that the community will rally behind her through donations.
“My foster parents from Australia are running a GoFundMe for me, and with local sponsorships, we’ve collected around $700 so far,” Kolitapa shared. However, she emphasizes that she still requires additional support to cover travel, accommodation, and equipment costs to ensure a smooth trip.
In a positive turn, a local law firm has also stepped in to pledge sports gear for Kolitapa, which will aid in her preparations for the competition. She set a fundraising goal of $3,000 and has thus far raised $740. With hopes high, she plans to leave Fiji on March 1, arriving in Bangkok by March 5, determined to give her all on the international stage.
This inspiring tale of perseverance highlights not only Kolitapa’s dedication but also the communal spirit as she seeks support to represent her country and make Fiji proud in the world of boxing.
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