Athletes Prepare For Commonwealth Games
The Fijian athletes are grateful that the PacificAus Sports and the Australian government are assisting them in their final training and preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Commonwealth Games Association and Fiji Amatuer Sports Association National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) president Makarita Lenoa said: “The PacificAus sports-funded camps and training will give our athletes the greatest opportunity to compete to their best in Birmingham.
“The global pandemic has challenged all our athletes in recent years and with these final camps and high-performance training, we know our athletes can proudly represent Fiji in Birmingham,” she said.
Athletes who are now in camp in Sydney include the triathletes (Tri Academy June 30 to July 13), squash (Brisbane June 6 to July 15), and table tennis (Sydney July 6 to 15), and those taking part in athletics (Oceania Athletics Training Centre, Gold Coast June 27 to July 13).
Table tennis team manager Carolyn Li said: “This camp in Sydney is the perfect opportunity for both our men’s and women’s teams to capitalise on their preparation with an intensive period of training. This is exactly what our team needs at this stage as we approach the Games.”
Triathlete Rhys Cheer said: “The chance to have an intensive programme on the Sunshine Coast with other team members under a world-class coach makes all the difference to my preparation.
“This provides the perfect platform for me to deliver a personal best in Birmingham.”
Recent Pacific Mini Games Men’s 100m sprint champion Banuve Tabakaucoro said: “Attending the PacificAus Sports funded GAPS camp on the Gold Coast was the ideal preparation for the Pacific Mini Games.
“With another intensive training block on the Gold Coast, I feel confident I will perform at my best in Birmingham.”
Sixty-four athletes across 12 sports, including Para Athletics, Para Table Tennis and sevens rugby (men and women) are expected to represent Fiji in Birmingham.
“350 athletes from the Pacific will be competition in Birmingham. This partnership is not just about backing high-performance programmes across the Pacific.
“It also sends a message of resilience to communities throughout the region,” Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) president Ben Houston said.
Feedbacks: karalaini.waqanidrola@fijisun.com.fj
