Yee’s Japan Experience

Sally Yee, 19, is looking forward to her second Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.
Competing as a 15- year old at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Yee returned to Fiji in March from training in Japan as the deadly coronavirus hit the world.
Despite having challenges with the training restrictions in Fiji, Yee managed to do her individual training at home.
“I think it’s good that they postponed the Olympics. It is for the safety of all and for athletes to prepare more,” she said.
“Before I came to Fiji, everything in Japan was normal, school was still going on and no lockdown.
“After I arrived in Fiji a few days later then it started to get worse in Japan.
“The training is different in Japan, the training halls, facilities, partners and the skills are much higher.”
Yee studies English at Chinzei Gakuin High School in Japan and takes part in local competitions in the Nagasaki prefecture.
“Every month there is a prefecture competition, in which I participated,”she said.
“Training facilities in Fiji are a challenge, the tables and resources in Japan are more advanced.
“We have a table at home and I am competing with my sister, Grace.
Sally secured an Olympic scholarship for athletes’ preparation for Tokyo 2020 from the International Olympic Committee in partnership with the Japan Olympic Committee. This enables her to receive education and training in Nagasaki in her bid to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
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