The Vanuatu Women’s Beach Volleyball team has soared once again, again winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
It was the culmination of months of hard work for veteran captain Miller Pata and her young partner Sherysyn Toko, who was participating in her first Commonwealth Games.
The team has been sponsored by TitanFX for several years now, with focused support since they began their bid for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics more than a year ago.
Pata was very pleased with their performance and winning her second Commonwealth medal.
“I am really proud to win my second medal. I am so happy, I don’t even know how to explain it,” said Pata to Games organisers after her team won a tough two-sets-to-one (10-21, 22-20, 15-10) victory against New Zealand on Sunday, August 7.
“I dedicate it to my two kids back home. I have a boy and a girl; I know they are proud of me and I miss them. I have been away for three months, but now I get to go home and see them,” she added.
The gold medal went to defending Commonwealth champions Canada, who won the final with a 2-1 sets comeback over Australia.
This is the second bronze win at this event for Pata, who represented Vanuatu in 2018 on the Gold Coast of Australia alongside Linline Matuatu, now retired.
Team Vanuatu’s coach Steve Anderson has been instrumental in getting the best out of these athletes, with an emphasis on fitness and mindset.
Along with assistant coach Federica Tonon, the two worked together with the players last year in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, with Tonon re-joining them for their recent European tour and for Birmingham 2022.
In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games, Pata and Toko won their first international gold medal on the FIVB Pro Beach Tour in Leece, Italy, having started their preparation time in Australia training, then moving onto tournaments in Turkey, Greece and Italy before heading to the UK.
This team is working hard, achieving success and are definitely having the time of their lives – and Titan FX, as their major sponsor, is making sure they get to enjoy every moment.
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