Airport supports kickboxer’s world title bid
Rotorua International Airport is again showing its commitment to the Bay of Plenty community by supporting Te Puke kickboxer Sarah Rankin in her efforts to get to Thailand for a reality TV fight show.
As part of the show, Sarah will compete against girls from US, Europe and Australia. She will be in Thailand for six weeks of training, fighting and filming. If she wins her elimination fights and makes it to the final five, Sarah will fight a Thai champion for a WBC world title.
“Sarah reminded me of when Rotorua Airport first started the process of becoming an international airport. Sarah is Te Puke’s own and, like the airport, she’s punching above her weight,” says airport business development manager Rhys Arrowsmith.
“As a community we need to support the bold and courageous.”
For every return airfare sold on the Rotorua to Sydney direct route, Rotorua International Airport will donate $50 to Sarah’s cause. Rhys has also donated $200 on behalf of the airport which was quickly matched by Show Off and Woods Creative.
Sarah’s involvement with the TV show, Tuff Girls, began after she saw a magazine advertisement for contestants. She auditioned against at least 60 Australian girls in Melbourne in February, an ordeal including an interview with Fox Sport commentator Mark Castagnini, a photo shoot and two minutes of sparring against a fellow applicant. Everything was filmed and sent to Las Vegas for the show’s organisers to choose the contestants. In April she was told she’d been chosen.
“This is a massive achievement for me and the opening of a window of many great things to come,” she says. “It has taken a lot of focus, determination and training and I can’t wait to start this adventure. I have been training most mornings before work, then going to work all day and then back to training after work until about 8.30-9pm.
“My biggest struggle through this whole time has been trying to secure financial backing for my backing,” says Sarah. “As I am the only girl to be chosen from NZ it was all on me to find my own sponsorship. I was told from the production company that I would need at least $5000 to cover flights and living expenses for six weeks. As I am an individual I have been unable to get any funding from charitable trusts, so it has been a bit of a struggle. (But) I have had some really generous sponsorship and plenty of support from family and friends.
“I am very grateful for all the support that I have been given and look forward to going to Thailand and doing my very best in the sport,” she says.
Sarah flies to Thailand this month and will be compete until mid-August.