Taichi Vakasama, 17, of Barracudas Swim Club, aims to set more records in the sport he loves.

He is part of the national team that will depart for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan at the end of the month.

The others are teammates Netani Ross, Eugene Kado, Epeli Rabua, Matelita Buadromo and Adi Kinisimere Naivalu.

“I am looking forward to the event once again, the more I participate, the better for me,” he said after causing ripples at the Nadi Sports and Social Club yesterday.

He joined the other swimmers from the 10 clubs nationwide at the 2nd National Short Course Grand Prix.

The Swami Vivekananda College student was part of the six member team that returned from the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships in Indianapolis, USA where he set a national record in the 200m individual medley event.

He stopped the clock at 2 min 11.4 sec to shatter the previous record of 2min 12 sec in his very first heat.

“I feel honoured to be part of that but I was just doing my PB. Hope to do more in the future.”

Vakasama hails from Daliconi, Vanuabalavu, in Lau while his mother is from Tokyo, Japan.

His career in the sport began in 2009 but as a reserve for his school swimming team.

“I clocked a personal best last week with 2min 11 sec and hoping to do better with 2min 8 sec,” he said.

He also claimed bronze medal in the boys 200m Breaststroke final of the Commonwealth Youth Games.

A total of 10 clubs from around the country were part of the one day event where personal bests were paramount for the local swimmers.

When this edition went to press last night Fiji Swimming officials were sorting out the results.

Edited by Osea Bola

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