In order to understand Ayana Rengiil’s remarkable story, we have to go back to the very beginning.
On December 1st, 2015, Amrit Rai, Director of Platform Sports, reached out to Darran Wrighton—the director of the ITF Pacific Training Centre in Fiji—via Facebook. Darran ran the ITF House, an initiative designed to support elite tennis players from across the Pacific Islands. His passion for creating opportunities for young athletes was evident, and in 2016, Amrit travelled to Fiji to witness the program firsthand.
What Amrit saw was nothing short of extraordinary.
For these athletes, the sacrifice wasn’t just a challenge; it was an opportunity to break barriers, create futures, and make their communities proud.
In 2016, Darran Wrighton partnered with Platform Sports to help one of his star athletes—Ayana Rengiil—navigate the U.S. college recruitment process.
Despite limited resources, Darran and his team managed to film Ayana’s matches. Without access to Dropbox or Google Drive, Darran drove 2 hours to deliver the footage in person before Amrit’s team flew back to New Zealand.
This small act of determination set the wheels in motion. The Platform Sports team began networking with college coaches, showcasing Ayana’s abilities, character, and potential.
Ayana signed with NCAA Division I University of Alabama A&M, where she played collegiate tennis for four years. Her journey was not without its challenges, but Ayana’s work ethic, resilience, and discipline shone through.
In 2021, Amrit Rai received a call from Ayana. Her voice trembled, and Amrit’s first thought was that something was wrong. Instead, they were tears of joy.
Ayana’s story is a testament to what’s possible when talent, opportunity, and hard work come together:
We are so incredibly proud of Ayana, not just for her success in tennis or academics but for the way she seized every opportunity to change her future.
None of this would have been possible without the relentless dedication of Darran Wrighton and the team at the ITF Pacific Training Centre. Darran’s commitment to his athletes—his willingness to go above and beyond—gave Ayana the chance to turn her dreams into reality.
To this day, the ITF House stands as a symbol of resilience, family, and opportunity, nurturing athletes who dare to dream big and work hard.
Ayana’s story teaches us one important thing:
“If you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.”
The right team. The right programme. The right future.
To every aspiring athlete with a dream—know that there is a path. At Platform Sports, we’re here to guide you, just like we did with Ayana, and help you take that first step toward a brighter future.
