National high jumper Rusiate Matai is no longer part of the Team Fiji contingent to the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
Matai’s exit comes after an old injury sustained in the United States resurfaced during training and effectively excluded him from participating.
Team Fiji Chef de Mission, Josaia Tuinamata, said yesterday he is the only athlete to step down as a result of the injury.
He added it was fortunate Matai’s injury was made known of prior to the national team’s departure for Palau tomorrow and Saturday.
Matai’s exclusion will be a significant absence for Team Fiji, since he recently set a new national high jump record of 2.10m at the Bearcat Invitational Competition in the United States in February and would have been a strong contender for gold in Palau.
