Training boosts Tona
The National, Tuesday October 22nd, 2013
By KYMLIE KARANI
Papua New Guinea’s female taekwondo Olympian Theresa Tona has just returned from a successful one week training camp in Adelaide.
The 22-year-old from Kairuku-Hiri district, Central, said the one-week high performance camp in Adelaide, Australia, would help her training in the country.
Her outstanding performance at the recent Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna, where she was awarded gold for being the best female fighter of the competition, has boosted the super star to excel in her career.
Before the one-week training camp, Tona competed in an invitational event in Melbourne where she beat Australian junior world champion Cassandra Willocke to snatch gold in the under 49kg event.
“It was a tough challenge but I managed to beat her,” Tona said.
“The high performance training will help me better my preparations for future bigger tournaments,” she said.
Under the guidance of coach Andy Rutten, Tona went through a tough and intense camp alongside some of Australia’s best junior taekwondo athletes.
“I do hope a big team is sent to attend these training camps in the future,” Tona, who is employed by Kina Finance as the executive assistant to the CEO, added.
Tona thanked the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee for funding her trip and thanked the PNG Taekwondo Federation for their continuous support.