Sereima Vautuni and Tarusila Marakibau are the first women to take part in the Billiard and Snooker Association of Fiji (BSAF) Inter-Club Championships at the Nausori Club yesterday.

A sport usually dominated by men is making a breakthrough involving women for the first time.

BSAF president Bhatti Riffat is delighted with the women taking part in the pair’s competition.

“For the first time, we are including women in this competition and they are doing great,” Riffat said.

“I hope we will attract more women in future.”

Vautuni has played snooker for two years.

“I picked up the sport two years ago when I wanted to take my mind off other things,” Vautuni said.

“I have enjoyed the sport and I use it as a way to relieve stress sometimes, so it is a win, win situation for me.”

The 22-year-old Udu, Naitasiri native feels happy being one of the first women to take part in the competition and encourages more females to take up the sport.

“I feel privileged to be part of the first women’s team in this tournament,” she said.

“I know women are more likely to take up netball but I recommend snooker.

“We thought that this was going to be a team of five because we had three other girls who wanted to play but it was only a pair’s tournament.

The competition ends today at the Nausori Club.