Moara Nonu made history as a trailblazer for women’s karate in Fiji when she represented her country at the Seventh Oceania Karate Championship in Australia in 1997. Notably, she was the first woman to compete internationally for Fiji in karate, a significant milestone reported by The Fiji Times on May 7 of that year. Encouraged by her accomplishment, the Fiji Karate-Do Federation expressed intentions to send more women abroad in preparation for the upcoming 1999 South Pacific Games in Guam.
Nonu, alongside her husband Pene and fellow competitor Netani Koto, earned their spots after an international championship held in Suva. In a remarkable performance, Nonu secured two bronze medals in the senior women’s category, finishing behind New Zealand competitors Maree Mahony and Aondrea Moynthan.
Koto emerged as a standout, claiming the gold medal in the senior men’s fight category, while Pene took home a silver medal in the kata category and added a bronze in the fight category against New Zealand’s Rajesh Ravji.
Pene, serving as the secretary of Fiji’s karate federation, highlighted the challenges posed by funding in sending athletes overseas but emphasized the invaluable experience gained from the championship. He expressed gratitude for the support received from the Sports Ministry and Air Pacific, while also noting the importance of a karate seminar conducted by Morio Higaonna, a seventh-degree black belt from Japan, which attracted over 100 participants, fostering skill development and knowledge transfer within the local karate community.
Overall, this event not only showcased Fiji’s talent on an international platform but also paved the way for the development of women’s sports in the country. The commitment to improving karate skills and facilitating learning experiences signifies a hopeful future for the sport and its athletes in Fiji.
The achievements of Moara Nonu and her fellow competitors underline the importance of supporting women’s participation in sports, demonstrating that with dedication and resources, significant strides can be made.
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