Toni Toka has represented New Zealand in three highly divergent sports – softball, darts and sumo.

The 24-year-old Lower Hutt resident recently returned from the Oceania Sumo Championship in Sydney, where she picked up a silver medal in the heavyweight division. At the end of this month she is off to the world champs in Japan, where she is hoping for big things.

"I want to go over there and come back as a world champion."

That is a big ask for a relative novice in sumo. She was introduced to sumo by Geneva Webber, who she plays rugby league with for Randwick.

He Toa Sport coach Martin Stirling says Toka has made a lot of progress in her first year and anything is possible.

"Toni could get a medal, you never know. She does not have Geneva's power but she has a good technique."

Webber suffered her first loss in five years but went on to claim a gold in Sydney.

Some people might says that sumo, with its emphasis on being big, is not the most glamorous sport for young women.

Toka weighs in at 90 kgs and says she really enjoys sumo and is looking to promote it.

"I want to get sumo out there and make it a much bigger sport."

She accepts that 90 kgs is a lot but says she trains hard and can lose a lot of weight after she competes.

The third He Toa fighter who competed in Sydney was St Bernard's College 17-year-old Emilio Soane, who came third in the junior heavyweights.

Toka will be competing at the World Championship in Japan later this month. She will be joined by Mark Tanu, who at 250 kgs, is one of the biggest competitors in sumo.

Stirling is organising a fund raiser on Saturday August September 22 at the Belmont Hall. Tickets cost $5 ph 938 6693.