VIDEO:Tongan Olympian receives warm welcome

A pōhiva kakala performed by the Tonga High School students produced a euphoric mood in the crowd as the school welcomed Tonga’s Olympic Taekwando star Pita Taufatofua.

During the welcoming event a stirring song was performed by the students while Taufatofua and others were sitting at the front facing the singers.

“Do a little dance”, Taufatofua was overhead as saying on a video purported to record the event.

He then left his seat and walked towards the students before he started dancing to the song. This was met with a tremendous cheer and laughter from the audience.

He later wrote on Facebook and said: “I gave them a 15 minute speech about relentlessly pursuing your Dreams and they gave me something soo much more memorable!”

I gave them a 15 minute speech about relentlessly pursuing your Dreams and they gave me something soo much more memorable! #TongaHighSchool-KiheLeleiTaha #SpecialCheer

Posted by Pita Taufatofua on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The 32-year-old from HaÊ»apai won gold in the over 80kg class at last month’s Oceania Qualifying tournament to seal his place at the Rio Olympics and he is the first Tongan to qualify for the Rio Olympic in August.

Sometimes when a business is growing, it needs a little help.

Right now Kaniva News provides a free, politically independent, bilingual news service for readers around the world that is absolutely unique. We are the largest New Zealand-based Tongan news service, and our stories reach Tongans  wherever they are round the world. But as we grow, there are increased demands on Kaniva News for translation into Tongan on our social media accounts and for the costs associated with expansion. We believe it is important for Tongans to have their own voice and for Tongans to preserve their language, customs and heritage. That is something to which we are strongly committed. That’s why we are asking you to consider sponsoring our work and helping to preserve a uniquely Tongan point of view for our readers and listeners.

spot_imgspot_imgspot_imgspot_img

Latest news

Related news