Suva Grammar School Year 13 student Elina Catherine Drikibau has a lot to work on if she is to earn a spot in the Fijian Pearls squad for next year’s Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.

The 17-year old Toki, Ovalau, Lomaiviti lass, is part of the Pearls extended and Fijian Under-21 squads. She shares maternal links to Urone in Vanuabalavu, Lau.

The shooting ace has been selected for the short-term Athlete Immersion Programme, which involves a 10-day camp with Netball Queensland on September 11 in Queens­lands, Australia.

“World Cup is next year and I still have a lot of things to work on; attacking wise, shots and get to the standard where the current players are,” Drikibau said.

“For me I look up to the senior players; dur­ing training they teach me many things and I’m so grateful to have this wonderful oppor­tunity training with them.

“I’m excited to meet other players from the region in the Immersion Programme and learn more on some of the areas that I need to work on.”

Drikibau was part of the combined teams in the FAST5 series, held early this month along with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Lightning players.

“It was my first FAST5 game; playing along­side some professional players from the Sun­corp Super Netball was a great experience for me.

“I got to learn so much; attacking, commu­nicate with my shooting partner and to al­ways be confident when I take my shot.”

Drikibau attended Veiuto Primary School where she represented her school and Suva at the Inter-district Championship in the Un­der-10 and U13 grades.

She is a member of the Grasshoppers Club that plays in the Suva Netball Association competition.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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