Athletes Profiles

Who: Vijender Singh, India
Sport: Boxing

Having grown up in the village of Kalwas in Northern India, Vijender Singh, was five years old, when Indian boxer Raj Kumar Sagwan won the Indian Government’s Arjuna Award for his achievements in boxing – and put India’s boxing community back on the map. In an aim to ensure a better life for their poor family, Vijender and his elder brother Manoj decided to take up boxing.

For Vijender, boxing quickly grew from an interest and passion to a career choice.

After winning medals in several national competitions, Vijender was picked to compete at international level in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha he won the bronze medal for India.

A win over Ecuador’s Carlos Góngora at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, guaranteed him a bronze medal – the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer.

After this historic win, Vijender was felicitated with a number of awards, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. In 2009, he won a bronze medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships. Also in 2009, the International Boxing Association announced him as the top-ranked boxer in its middleweight category list with 2800 points.

Vijender is tipped to win gold in the 2012 London Olympics.

 

Who: Connor and Dale Hood, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Shooting

Combining a whopping 56 years of shooting experience, Connor and Dale Hood will be competing in several shooting events in the 2011 Arafura Games to show off their skills.

Participating in their third Games, the father-son-duo are looking forward to the ISSF and IPSC pistol shooting events and the National Rifle and Shotgun Championships, which will be held in Darwin as part of this year’s Arafura Games.

And while Dale, 53, is aiming at “not coming last”, Connor, 18, is looking at different goals.

“I wouldn’t mind a decent place,” he said. “I’d be happy to make it into the Top 10.”

Having competed in shooting competitions since the young age of seven, the motor trimmer already has “lost count” of his medals.

“I do have a fair few (medals) at home – I don’t know how many," he said. "I like shooting, because it’s fun, it’s got a good atmosphere and it’s very competitive.”

While competing in different classes – according to their age – Connor and Dale Hood both stand a chance of taking out the overall medal.

“It’s a real challenge,” Dale said. “It all comes down to accuracy and speed, but when you’re over 50 your reaction is not as quick any more.”

The long-time Territorian said he was proud to be part of a “very strong” pistol shooting community.

“The sport is very popular here, shooting is really big in the Top End and there are some very good clubs and competitors in Darwin,” he said.

“The Arafura Games are a great opportunity for everyone in the region to learn from people from around the world – they all do things differently and we’ll all benefit from sharing knowledge. For the Northern Territory, its people and its athletes it’s very important to maintain the Games – to get to meet people from other countries and to see sports you usually don’t get to see in the Northern Territory.”

 

Who: Mark Trobbiani, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Volleyball

With a variety of twenty sports competitions and more than 4.000 athletes from 40 countries expected to gather in Darwin for the 2011 Arafura Games, the week long multi-sport competition is the highlight in this year’s national and international sports calendars.

Amongst the sporting events hosted by the 2011 Games will not only be boxing, cricket and hockey matches, but also an Open Men and Women’s Round Robin volleyball tournament.

Competing in his 5th Arafura Games, Darwinite Mark Trobbiani will be an old-stager on the volleyball court.

“We are a relatively newly formed team with a group of developing players, who are new to volleyball,” the 31-year-old said.

“The aim in this competition is to give these new players game experience at a high level. That is why the Arafura Games is so good for us,” he said.

“The international competition comes to us. It is an opportunity to compete against quality international and interstate competition that many of us would not likely have had. It gives us a goal that inspires all of us to train harder and excel, which not only enhances our local competitions skill level, but interstate as well.”

After winning a silver medal in the 2005 Arafura Games beach volleyball competition and a bronze medal in hardcourt volleyball, Mr Trobbiani said he was looking forward to the 2011 Games.

“Competing in the Arafura Games means a lot to me. It is a fantastic experience and opportunity to meet players from other states and nations.”

 

Who: Stephanie Mfrenguie Mfongwot, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Boxing

When athletes from around the world gather in Darwin for the 2011 Arafura Games, a young woman will by flying the flag for the Northern Territory – in the boxing arena.

Cameroon-born Stephanie Mfrenguie Mfongwot, 17, said she was looking forward to her first competition against international fighters.

”I’ve heard a lot about the event,  about how big it’s going to be and the great international competition – it makes me a bit nervous, but I am confident I can win.

“As the only girl from the Territory I am looking forward to fighting for the NT, I’m really proud of having been given the opportunity.”

The young, hearing-impaired athlete, who also plays AFL, said she loved “boy’s sports”.

“Boxing runs in my family – I’ve watched my brothers and my dad compete for years and basically grew up in the boxing ring. It was just a matter of time to actually give it a try myself. And rugby is really cool, it’s an exciting game – but I love boxing more, it’s really good fun and a great exercise that keeps you fit.”

The Darwin High School student, who has been boxing for less than 18 months, said while her usual training consisted of two three-hour training sessions a week, she was looking at taking up more training before the Arafura Games.

“In the lead-up to the Games I will be training four times a week for three hours to get my skills and fitness right up,” the 64kg boxer said.

Boxing NT president and team trainer Boyd Scully said he was excited about the growing interest in female boxing.

“I think it’s fair to say that what’s good for men is good for women – and since women started to get into the ring Australia’s seen some very good talents,” he said. "There is a lot of difference in female and male boxing; some of the girls are really good in their footwork and defense. It’s good for the Territory to have so many female boxers coming to compete in the Arafura Games – it gives our Territory girls an insight in the sport and hopefully it gives them a bit of inspiration to get involved.

“I’d like to see more female boxers in the Territory.”

Almost 30 female boxers are registered for this year’s Arafura Games boxing competition, including athletes from India, Indonesia, Macau and Papua New Guinea.

Both of Ms Mfongwot’s brothers, Sirak Modeste and Jonas, will also be competing in this year’s Arafura Games – among more than 189 athletes from ten nations, who will be fighting for gold, silver and bronze medalsin elevenweight divisions.

 

Who: Ayrton Innes, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Swimming

Ayrton Innes is only 13 years old – but he is already one of the Territory’s best swimmers.

After winning six gold medals in the South Australian titles in January, the young swimmer was named Swimmer of the Meet in the 2011 Vorgee NT Open and Age Swimming Championships last month.

He also won Champion Male and Champion Distance Male in the Championships.

“The goal in every competition is a good time – nothing else matters,” the young athlete, who has been competing in swimming competitions for seven years, said.

 “My older siblings were right into swimming when I was little, and when I was six I asked my mum to take me to the pool – I think that’s when it all started,” he said. “I was hooked.

After winning a silver and a bronze medal in his first Arafura Games in 2009, Ayrton is keen on showing off another outstanding performance in this year’s Games.

“I will be competing in eight different, individual contests this year – and my goal is a medal,” he said. “But I’ll be competing almost outside my age group – a lot of the other kids are older.”

But he was looking forward to the “good competition” in this year’s Games, Essington School student said.

“With all the swimmers from overseas we’ll be seeing a good and hard competition, but it’ll still be a really relaxed, friendly event for all competitors – a big meet with little pressure.”

The 13-year-old said focussing on himself instead of thinking about the competition was his key to success.

“You can’t get in the water and worry about the others, you have to focus on yourself, keep your motivation up and do your best,” he said.

“I’m in the first year of a three-year plan with my swimming. This year, I’ll try to maintain a position in the top 20 ranking. In the second year I want to make it into the finals in national competitions. The third year is still a fair way away, but I am looking at the open national finals – a hard score for us here in the Territory as we don’t have the facilities and the competition other swimmers have in bigger cities in Australia. That’s why bringing a good sporting competition like the Arafura Games to Darwin is vital for the Territory’s sporting community.”

Starting his training at 5.30 on four mornings a week, the young swimmer spends up to 17 hours a week in the water.

“Sometimes it feels like it gets a bit over the top, but my goals keep me motivated and I always look forward to the next competitions. And maybe sometime in the future I’ll be able to also play soccer at high level. I train soccer for four hours a week – it’s good to do a team sport and an individual sport. But I’ve got a few years to go until I’m old enough to play soccer in the Arafura Games.”
 

Who: Tarsh Parmenter, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Volleyball

Competing in her first ever Arafura Games, Tarsh Parmenter is looking forward to be playing in the indoor volleyball matches “at the highest level”.

“To me competing in the 2011 Arafura Games means to try and play the best I have played, to show sportsmanship, great team work, determination and to have fun at the same time,” the winner of the Ladies Australian Indoor Beach Volleyball Titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 said.

“It is an honour to be able to represent the Northern Territory in indoor volleyball with great team mates, and to promote the sport as a great sport for any age.”

The 33-year-old ministerial assistant said this year’s competition was a “great preparation” for the national ‘Good Neighbours’ competition, which will be held for Australia’s elite volleyball players in Canberra later this year

She said showing that her team was “competitive against other countries” was an aim in this year’s Games to keep athletes from around the world interested in “coming back to compete in our Territory”.
 

Who: Claire O’Bryan, Northern Territory, Australia
Sport: Basketball

When thousands of athletes from all over the world gather in Darwin from May 7-14 to participate in one of the Territory’s most versatile and anticipated sporting events, local basketball star Claire O’Bryan will be filled with excitement to be part of this year’s Arafura Games.

The stunning 17-year-old, who was last year named Most Valuable Player of the Darwin Airport Woman’s League and U21 MVP for the league competition, said playing in her second Games in Darwin would be “exciting and challenging”.

At the age of 12, Claire made it into the NT state basketball team, before being nominated into the Australian squad last year.

“God, I hated those 6am training sessions, but I had to work hard to make it to where I am now,” she said.

Together with her team the young athlete has played several matches in China, Singapore and Indonesia.

To improve her performance with every game, the Charles Darwin University customer services officer spends at least two hours of her already busy days training.

 “But playing basketball is a lot of fun and it keeps you fit,” she said.

After winning a gold medal in the 2009 Arafura Games – at the age of 15 – Claire said she was looking forward to this year’s Games.

“It will be great to be playing in such a renowned, internationally recognised tournament at home again – with friends and family watching,” she said.

“And I am hoping to play a bigger role in these Games that I did in the last.”

Growing up in remote Indigenous communities Claire started her basketball career started at the age of 10.

“Basketball is the main sport people play out there in the communities, and   although I liked swimming and tennis I had to decide which sport I wanted to focus on when I moved to Darwin eight years – and basketball gives you so many positions to play in, it’s a great team sport, you get to meet new people and it’s a lot of fun.”

Later this year the young Darwin athlete will be going to the US to study for a degree in psychology.

“And of course I’ll be playing uni basketball,” she said.