A FIJIAN Olympic judo hopeful has arrived in Kendal for three months of intense training to aid her qualification for London 2012.

Sisilia Nasiga, 32, has previously competed at the Athens and Beijing Olympics, but she told The Westmorland Gazette she wants to go one step further as she bids for her third Olympic event.

Nasiga will work under Kendal Judo Club’s head coach Mike Liptrot at Kendal Dojo until April, before she contests the Oceania Olympic qualification in Australia.

She said: “I have come here to train hard and become stronger. The training will help with conditioning and warming up better. We had one session already and it is really good for me.

“I am really lucky to have this opportunity. If I can go to Australia and win I will come back for a pre-Olympic camp in June and I haven’t got any time to waste if I want to get to the Olympics.

Nasiga, who spent eight years fighting judo in Japan, said she has found it hard leaving her home in Fiji, especially as she has an 18-month-old daughter, but said she has to do it if she is to achieve her ambitions.

“I still have that hungry feeling for judo and want to go to the Olympics and win at least one match.

“Back in Fiji my husband is my coach but it is not full time and we really haven’t got the same facilities that are available here. To go to the Olympics would be brilliant again. All the good players and famous athletes are there. It is a bit like being in Hollywood for me.”

In 2008, Nasiga came up against eventual bronze-medalist Edith Bosch from the Netherlands in the first round, but Liptrot believes she has potential to progress further than that this time around.

He said: “Sisi is here for herself and we want to help her achieve her goals and make the most of our resources.

“It is about learning things for the future and there is a likelihood she will become a coach in Fiji. I would like her to fulfil her potential, whatever that may be and if she wins, one or two matches, or pushes for a medal, it will be great for her and for us.”