National Fiji Record Broken at UniSport Nationals Athletics Following Landmark ONOC Partnership

Fijian distance runner, Yeshnil Karan, set a new Fiji national record in a sensational performance at the UniSport National Athletics Championship yesterday, claiming gold in the men’s 10,000m final with a personal best time of 30:19.92.

Yeshnil Karan running in the men's 10,000m final Image credit: Luke Graves

Yeshnil’s win comes on the heels of a landmark partnership between the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and UniSport Australia, aimed at providing greater opportunities for Pacific Island athletes to access national sporting competitions in Australia.

“I have been preparing in Brisbane over the last few months and achieved five personal bests in Australia over the past 7 weeks,” Yeshnil shared after his race. “Thank you to UniSport for allowing me and my training partners to compete in the Athletics Nationals. Also, thank you to all the competitors for being so friendly and supportive. In the future, I wish to come back again and run.”

The partnership between ONOC and UniSport is already proving fruitful, as it opens doors for Pacific Island athletes to access top Australian competitions, facilities, and support.

“This partnership with ONOC reflects our commitment to inclusivity and sporting excellence across the Oceania region,” Mark Sinderberry, CEO of UniSport Australia, said, “Yeshnil’s performance is a great example of the talent and determination that exists throughout the Pacific. We’re proud to provide a platform where athletes like Yeshnil can shine.”

Atma Maharaj, Programme Lead for Brisbane 2032 at ONOC, added, “our goal is to elevate Pacific athletes by providing meaningful pathways in both sport and education. Through this collaboration with UniSport, we are breaking down barriers and enabling our athletes to compete at high levels while pursuing university studies. Yeshnil’s success is just the beginning.”

Yeshnil’s journey and his gold medal win represent a powerful symbol of what’s possible through collaboration, opportunity, and determination. As more Pacific athletes gain access to UniSport events, this initiative promises to foster not only sporting development, but also long-term educational and leadership outcomes across the region.

About ONOC

Established in 1981, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) is one of five Continental Associations. It looks after the interests of 17 member nations in the Oceania Region, including Australia and New Zealand as well as seven associate members. ONOC has an office in Guam where Secretary General Mr. Ricardo Blas is based and the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, where the Office of the President Dr Robin Mitchell is located.

About UniSport

UniSport Australia is the peak governing body of university sport in Australia. We promote and foster the importance of university sport as an integral part of university life at our member universities, who collectively represent more than one million students nationwide.