Amini vows to channel disappointment into future success [1]
Monday, July 26, 2021 - 12:36. Updated on Monday, July 26, 2021 - 14:25.
Tongan swimmer Amini Fonua has vowed to chase future success, after his heartbreaking disqualification in the Men's 100m Breaststroke heat at the Tokyo Acquatic Centre, on July 24.
The outcome was a tragedy for Amini who came first in his heat with a time of 1:04.66 before being disqualified on a technicality.
'Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, Chef de Mission-Team Tonga, told Matangi Tonga this morning that the Tonga swimming management team had requested a review of the video of Heat 1.
“After further reviewing the underwater camera, it was concluded that he was DSQ on technicality...an illegal butterfly kick off the dive,” he said.
In the statement, Amini said, "I aim to remedy the issue and will not repeat the same mistake...and will channel this disappointment into future success. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed and sorry if I let them down."
There were seven heats for the 49 swimmers in the Olympic Men's 100m Breaststroke. Amini was in Heat 1 with two other swimmers, Michas Masei from American Samoa (1:04.93) and Muhammad Isa Ahmad from Brunei (1:08.65) who finished 46th and 47th in the combined heats results.
The final of the Men's 100m Breaststroke was won by Adam Peaty of Great Britain (57.56), the standing World and Olympic Record holder. Twenty swimmers completed their heats in under one minute.
Team Tonga has two swimmers. Noelani Day will compete in Women's 50m freestyle swimming heat on Friday 30 July.
Unfortunately, viewers in Tonga cannot access replays of events, due to regional broadcasting restrictions on Olympic channels, unless they subscribe to a VPN service that hides their location. However, SkyTv is covering selected sports, with a New Zealand and Australian focus, and some of the Pacific countries athletes may be found in those heats.
The official Olympic website [2] posts times and results for all events, with informational podcasts [3] about various sports, including: Everything you need to know about Olympic taekwondo [4]
The updated schedule for upcoming Team Tonga events:
Date |
Sport |
Athlete |
Event |
Japan Time |
Tongan time |
Monday, 26 July |
Taekwondo |
Malia Paseka [5]vs Lauren Williams (GRB) |
-67kg |
13:30 (1:30pm) |
5:30pm |
Tuesday, 27 July |
Taekwondo |
Pita Taufatofua [6]vs Vladislav Larin (ROC) |
+80kg |
11:45am |
3:45pm |
Friday, 30 July |
Swimming |
Noelani Day [7] |
50m Freestyle (Heat 4) |
19:25 (7:25pm) |
11:25pm |
Saturday, 31 July |
Athletics |
Ronald Fotofili [8] |
100m sprint |
11:35am – 11:59pm |
3:35pm – 3:59pm |
Monday, 2 August |
Weightlifting |
Kuinini Manumu’a [9] |
+87kg (Group A) |
19:50 (7:50pm) |
11:50pm |