Fijian men’s 7s rugby team captain Osea Kolinisau is likely to be Fiji’s flag bearer at the opening of next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was among the five nominations received by FASANOC.

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer, John O’Connor confirmed their nomination to SUNsports yesterday.

“We are glad to be given the opportunity and we have nominated Osea Kolinisau to be our flag bearer in the Olympics,” O’Connor said.

Kolinisau also got the backing from Fiji Shooting Association as president Jitendra Mohan confirmed they did not nominate Glen Kable since they believe a flag bearer is someone who has produced substantial results for the nation.

“We had an executive meeting and we had made a collective decision that a flag bearer is someone that the nation looks up to and be proud.

“So let’s back Osea to carry Fiji’s flag considering all the national achievements he has done for Fiji and at the same time we as a minor sport will not lose anything,” Mohan said.

The Namuka-i-Lau native holds the record of being the first Fijian to have played 53 games in the World Rugby Sevens Series and also the first captain on Fiji’s first back-to-back sevens series title win.

Japan based judoka Josateki Naulu was Fiji’s flag bearer in the 2012 London Olympics. Naulu has also contacted Fiji Judo president Nacanieli Takayawa informing him to give chance to other athletes to fly  Fiji’s flag in Rio.  This was as confirmed by Takayawa yesterday.

Other nominations:

Leslie Copeland

Athletics Fiji has nominated Copeland.

He got a place in Rio through a universality placing and his best throw so far is 81.76m.

Apolonia Vaivai

Vaivai will be the female lifter representing Fiji in Rio in the women’s 69kg.

The highlight of her performance this year was during the Oceania Weightlifting Championship when she was pushed to lift 114kg in her last attempt in the clean and jerk.

Robert Elder

He was nominated by Fiji Archery. Elder secured a place in Rio after gaining the necessary Minimum Qualification Score at the World Archery Accredited Partner Centre in Thailand last month.

Matelita Buadromo

Buadromo has been nominated by Fiji Swimming and is the first female swimmer that gained universality placing alongside male swimmer Meli Malani.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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