With two days left until competition day, athletes from Samoa are ready to take the mat and are among a team of 16 who travelled to New Zealand to represent Tuiaopo Investments KLAS Taekwondo Club.

One New Zealand-based athlete will join them in Auckland to push the team's total number to 17 who will compete at the New Zealand Nationals, according to a statement issued by the club. The 2023 Kukkiwon Cup – Taekwondo New Zealand National Championships – is this weekend from 19-20 August 2023 and will be held at the Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Auckland.

The club's participation at the national championships is an achievement for KLAS Taekwondo Club, as it prepares for the Sol2023 XVII Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in November this year. 

The athletes' ages range from 6–29 years covering different grades and weight classes. It is also an opportunity for the young athletes to gain experience at the international level, while also being able to compete against students outside of their own club, which is the only active taekwondo club in Samoa.

According to the head coach, Olympian and Pacific Games and Oceania gold medalist, Leuluaitumua Tapunuu Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga, this is by far the largest number they have taken to compete in an international tournament outside Samoa.

“We have come many miles to compete in the New Zealand Nationals to give our students an opportunity to experience what it’s like to fight internationally, but also creating that perspective that there is a whole world out there," said Tapunuu. "Lots of different skills and techniques which our students will be exposed to, they can bring that back home to help hone their craft."

Samoa is one of only two Pacific Islands that will be competing this weekend besides Tonga. Tongan student Luisa Fuilvai representing Tuiaopo KLAS Taekwondo Club will also compete.

For a developing island nation like Samoa, with fewer resources for a small sporting body like taekwondo, this trip was made possible with the support of sponsors, and donations through friends and family.

Tapunuu acknowledged the support of the sponsors and the sacrifices that were made by the club and its members.

“Nothing comes easy in life, there are always sacrifices to be made to get to where we need to be," he said. "I would like to acknowledge the support of our sponsors, friends and families for coming through when we really needed help.

“It means so much more when you leave home and come to a foreign country knowing the full support was given by our own people. The support and love poured into the kids has been surreal so praise God."