Tavisa: My Heart Is Beating
We spoke to Team Fiji women’s rugby sevens rep
Timaima Ravisa on how she took up rugby and her thoughts about the Olympic Games. Also Tavisa expressed her feelings
by bruce southwick in rio de janeiro, brazil
04 Aug 2016 13:30
Team Fiji women’s sevens rugby representative
Timaima Ravisa. Photo: Bruce Southwick/ZoomFiji.
We spoke to Team Fiji women’s rugby sevens rep
Timaima Ravisa on how she took up rugby and her thoughts about the Olympic Games. Also Tavisa expressed her feelings as she is now in Rio de Janeiro, the home of the 2016 Olympic Games
Q: So first what’s your name and where is your koro?
RAVISA: My name is Tima Ravisa and I’m from Savudodro, Savusavu in the province of Cakaudrove
Q: So when was the first time you watched rugby?
RAVISA: First time was in primary schools, I can’t remember, 1996
Q: But you watched rugby on TV?
RAVISA: Yes
Q: Who’s your rugby idol?
RAVISA: Waisale Sarevi, the master himself
Q: What did you like about him when you first watched him play?
RAVISA: Oh his footwork, footsteps, the sidesteps and goose steps everything about his footwork
Q: Have you ever thought that you will play for the Fiji team?
RAVISA: Actually not really I was not even dreaming about it because rugby back then was for men. I always watched rugby but that time I used to admire what Serevi always do. When I moved to Suva to study at FNU- that was where I started playing rugby. I gave it a shot and they asked me to join a club then from there I got the opportunity to be part of the national team. Then I began to watch William Ryder and Filimoni Delasau on TV and just loved the way they play.
Q: So what do you think about the Olympics especially for a young woman like you?
RAVISA: For me playing for Fiji in this Olympic Games is a dream come true. Definitely I will show the world what I have got
Q: What do think being a woman and to be part of the Olympics?
RAVISA: It’s good that women’s rugby is an Olympic sport. It’s a proud moment to play the sport as everyone thinks that only men are capable of playing rugby. Now we are coming with the men’s team to the Olympics. It going to be a different story altogether, as people back home will be watching us.
Q: Do you think by playing rugby in the Olympics is going to give you women a lot of confidence?
RAVISA: Yes because before people thought that women are not capable of playing a men’s sport. Now when they are introducing rugby to women it is going to encourage more women to come out of their comfort zone and try to make a difference and do something differently.
Q: When you was small, did you watch any Olympic Games?
RAVISA: Yes but for me watching the Olympics was only on athletics.
Q: Now you have flown to Rio in Brazil. What are your feelings right now?
RAVISA: Right now I am just looking forward to run into the field of play. I have been waiting for this to happen. My heart is beating faster I’m trying to stay focused because a few days of training with the girls in Chile has really helped me and I’m confident that we can really show what we are capable of as our preparation was really cool.
We spoke to Team Fiji women’s rugby sevens rep
Timaima Ravisa on how she took up rugby and her thoughts about the Olympic Games. Also Tavisa expressed her feelings...
fijisun.com.fj