Tona trains with new coach

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Tuesday 10th April 2012

PAPUA New Guinean taekwondo ace Theresa Tona has moved to Adelaide, South Australia, where her coach lives to prepare for the London Olympics.
Travelling almost 3,000km and leaving behind family and friends in Port Moresby, Tona moved to the West Lake Shore suburb last month in pursuit of her goal of becoming the first PNG Olympic medal winner.
The 20-year-old, who qua­lified last September for this year’s Games, lives with recently appointed PNG Olympic taekwondo coach Andy Rutten and trains three times a day.
Tona, ranked No.12 in the World Taekwondo Federation’s U49kg division, said leaving family had been difficult but necessary.
“Back home we train in a school gym but there are no mats, there are no bags to kick, we just train on the cement,” Tona, who grew up in Bereina near Port Moresby said.
“I just want to do my best If I win a medal, it would be a great honour for my country.”
Tona will compete in her second Olympic Games.
She made it to the third round in Beijing four years ago.
She lived in Canberra in the lead-up to the 2008 Games, which she said had made the shift easier.
“I speak to my family (over the phone) twice a day because my mum wants to hear me every day,” she said. “But it’s great training here because my technique’s improving and I have a great coach.”
Rutten said his charge was steadily improving and would compete at this month’s NSW Open then head to overseas tournaments.
“She’s definitely got a chance of a medal.”