LIMITATIONS in finances and travel arrangements compelled Fiji to pull out of participating in the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico, which started on Wednesday.
The Fiji Islands Baseball & Softball Association made the announcement in a press release yesterday.
It said their participation at the competition was unfeasible.
“Despite the hard work and dedication of our youth athletes and coaches, we are unfortunately unable to proceed due to visa processing challenges and limited financial resources that have made our participation unfeasible at this time,” the statement said.
“This was a very difficult decision, as our players were eager to showcase their talent and represent Fiji at the world level.”
While the association has lamented its inability to participate at the international meet, it added it would use the absence as an opportunity to better prepare themselves in the future.
The World Cup is currently underway at the La Loma Park in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico and will end tomorrow.
Fiji is pooled in Group C with Japan, Türkiye and Venezuela.
If Fiji was able to make it to Mexico to participate at the Youth Baseball World Cup, it would have faced Venezuela in its first match at 4am (Fiji time) yesterday.
They would have also faced Türkiye in their second match at 4.30pm yesterday.
Fiji’s third match was against Japan at 4.30am today.
Despite their absence from the international meet in Mexico, the organisation is also remaining committed to developing the further at the grassroots level.
“While we are deeply disappointed by these circumstances, Fiji Baseball remains committed to developing Baseball5 at the grassroots and national level.
“We will use this setback as motivation to prepare better and stronger for the future.”
