The passion for Vinooda Senewiratne has sports and fitness is what motivated him to start up a strength and conditioning facility in Samabula Suva.

Senewiratne who is originally from Sri Lanka says this has been a very long journey and a long process over the years.

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He says he started Valor Athletics a year ago after he found his mentor in Fiji to educate people about fitness and well-being.

Senewiratne says one of the challenges he faced was dealing with the mindsets of people, especially with the younger generations as it is difficult to keep them in a good mindset.

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He says he also faced a lot of criticisms whereby people would tell him that it was not going to work and he would never succeed or gain any returns.

However, he says his faith in God always kept him going. Senewiratne also received a $30,000 grant from the Ministry of Trade, Cooperative and SMEs and says he will utilise the fund to buy more equipment and upgrade his facility.

The young entrepreneur is encouraging people to be committed to their goals, be persistent and make their mindset to achieve what they want to.