The Fiji Times

Akbar salutes golfers

THE Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar, personally thanked members of the Lautoka Golf Club which has some students who are members and players, for giving their time to raise funds for victims of tropical cyclones Yasa and Ana. The cyclones left behind millions of dollars of damage to Fijian infrastructure, especially schools. When most sporting...

‘Bau Bullet’ ready

AFTER failing to qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016, Banuve ‘Bau Bullet’ Tabakaucoro has been given a second chance to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan this year. The Bau lad will be battling for a spot alongside Athletics Fiji teammate Eugene Vollmer. “Personally, taking part in the local competition has...

Kumar masters challenge

CANDIDATE master (CM) Manoj Kumar survived a stunning loss to Philip Sukhu of Marist Brothers High School and a draw with CM Goru Arvind to win the 2021 Brijlal Fiji-sponsored National Blitz Chess Championship on the weekend. Kumar amassed an unparalleled 10.5/12 to top a field of 46 players. Nadi chess champion Avinesh Nadan and...

Tennis Fiji mourns the death of Bibi

FIJI has lost one of its best lawn tennis players, Hamidan Bibi. The former Fiji and South Pacific No.1 died at her family residence in Ba on the weekend after a long illness. Tennis Fiji secretary Sachin Reddy said Bibi, formerly of Suva Lawn Tennis Club, had left behind a challenge for young tennis players...

Baber to review national teams’ participation locally

THE national 7s team management will review its participation at the 34th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s last weekend with plans to look at the viability of participating in other club tournaments apart from the Fiji Rugby Union Super Sevens Series. The Fiji shadow teams, Fiji Warriors and Fiji Barbarians featured in the two-day event eventually...

Nawaka success

THE 34th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s proved to be a success with the two Fiji shadow teams, Fiji Barbarian and Fiji Warriors featuring in the cup final. Nawaka Rugby Club executive Jeff Tamata said it was a fitting finale as both the Fiji teams fought against each other. “This is what the fans who came...

BMS sets focus on long distance events

Ballantine Memorial School is focusing on its long distance runners to bring them medals at the Suva zone one competition. The competition will be held on March 17. Today the school held its inter-house with Lami High School at the ANZ Stadium in Suva. Sports co-ordinator Bereta Laqere said she was happy to see the...

Lami students get athletics treat

Lami High School used today’s combined inter-house with Ballentine Memorial School as a way of treating its students. Principal James Faiyaz says the inter-house today gave him the opportunity to see the hidden talent the school has. He said they were looking forward to compete in the Suva Zone one competition and senior racer Taitusi...

Blues clear latest health check, relocate to Cambridge for bye week

The Blues have passed the requisite health checks and will spend their Super Rugby Aotearoa bye week in Cambridge as they await further developments in the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. In a planned response to the situation the country was thrown into on Saturday night when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the latest Covid restrictions (level...

NRL chief backs second NZ club to rival Warriors

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is keen to have a second team in New Zealand to “create tribalism’’ and “a new rivalry’’ with the Warriors. A second Brisbane team has been mooted to take the 16-strong competition to 17 clubs, but Abdo also favours adding another New Zealand-based side. “Considering whether a 17th team is...

Parents set to see Watson’s 50th test for Silver Ferns

As the Silver Ferns finally return to the court against archrivals Australia, world champion goal keep Jane Watson is ready to face a few more challenges on the eve of her 50th test. Fingers crossed, Mary and Ross Watson will be sitting in the virtually empty stands of the Christchurch Arena to witness their daughter...

Novak Djokovic equals Roger Federer’s record of 310 weeks at world No 1

Novak Djokovic is gaining on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the grand slam standings, and he’s already caught Federer in another significant statistic: As of Monday (Tuesday NZT), Djokovic has been No 1 in the ATP rankings for a total of 310 weeks. That equals Federer’s career record for most time spent atop the...

Suspended – Axe falls on Police White team after 7s punch-up

THE Police White 7s rugby team has been suspended indefinitely by the Fiji Police Force from participating in any 7s rugby tournament. The order was issued by the Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu yesterday after members of the team were involved in a scuffle during the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s in Nadi on Saturday....

Classic Bua reigns in Lautoka

FORMER Fiji champion Epeli Bua showed his class to take out the Supercool Snooker Shootout Championship at the South Seas Club in Lautoka on Saturday. Bua defeated rising star Vikrant Sharma 3-1 in the final. In the semi-finals, Bua downed Raymond Reddy 3-1 while Sharma defeated Philip Gock by the same score. Ironically the four...

Naitasiri athletes struggle for form

NAITASIRI Secondary School is wasting no time as it gears up for the Fiji Secondary Schools’ Nasinu, Naitasiri, Nausori (Triple N) athletics competition. NSS coach Samuela Railoa said they were using all necessary resources to help his squad in good shape before the competition. “It is tough coming all the way from Naitasiri to take...

Clubs call for answers

SOME affiliate clubs of the Namosi Rugby Union claim they have been unfairly treated over the administration and running of the union. Namosi Highlanders representative for the union and St Peter Rugby Club head coach Simione Marika claims members of eight clubs located in the highlands of Namosi are not happy with the operation of...

Baber raises alarm over high card issues, 7s players’ indiscipline

AN alarming number of cards were flashed during the 34th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s last weekend highlighting the need for more mentoring of players in regards to their discipline level. A total of 102 matches were played on day one which recorded 58 yellow cards and nine red cards. On day two, 106 matches were...

Police team to face 7s probe

THE axe has fallen on the Fiji Police White 7s team from participating in any rugby tournament until further notice. Fiji Police Force Acting Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu issued the order yesterday to suspend the team after its players were involved in a scuffle againt members of the Raiwasa Taveuni team during their cup quater-final match...

Boost for rugby academy

Rugby Academy Fiji received a major boost last week after Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, handed over rugby training equipment to the academy to help develop young rugby players in Fiji. The academy which is run by former Flying Fijian, Seremaia Bai, helps to develop and inspire young local kids who are enthusiastic...

Constellation Cup netball tests all to be played in Christchurch

Netball New Zealand have confirmed the Constellation Cup series between the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds will go ahead with all four Tests played in Christchurch, closed to the general public. The trans-Tasman rivals will meet at Christchurch Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday as scheduled, but crowds for will not be permitted due to the...

Wellington Phoenix find their shooting boots to down Newcastle Jets

Six shots, two goals. Ufuk Talay would take that strike rate every week. Wellington Phoenix’s coach was delighted with the response he got from his players, particularly his under fire frontmen, after coming away with a much-needed 2-0 victory against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. The result snapped a four-game winless run...

Crusaders fullback Will Jordan in doubt to face Hurricanes

The Crusaders could again be without standout fullback Will Jordan when they host the Hurricanes at a Covid-19 enforced empty Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday night. Coach Scott Robertson will make a call on his status after his rib injury is assessed early this week, but it’s clear he won’t be risked unless he’s touching 100...

Wales reap the benefits of Pivac’s first-year experiments

CARDIFF (Reuters) – The knives were being sharpened for coach Wayne Pivac after his first year in charge of Wales ended with a paltry three wins from 10 games but a matter of weeks later he is being feted as his team eye what would be an extraordinary Grand Slam. Saturday’s 40-24 victory over England...

Newcastle’s Bruce fears the worst over injuries after Wolves draw

NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) – Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said he feared the worst after losing forwards Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin to injury in the 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Newcastle went 1-0 up in the 52nd minute after losing Miguel Almiron to injury at halftime, but when...

Soccer-Guardiola says Man City win streak may be greatest achievement

(Reuters) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said overseeing the team’s 20-game winning run in all competitions may be one of the greatest achievements of his glittering career. Goals from Ruben Dias and John Stones fired City to a 2-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday and moved them 13 points clear of Manchester...

Cricket-Mathews to captain Sri Lanka in T20s as visa issue grounds Shanaka

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s former skipper Angelo Mathews will be the cricket team’s stand-in captain for the three-match Twenty20 series in West Indies after Dasun Shanaka was left stranded by a visa issue, the country’s cricket board said. Shanaka was named Sri Lanka’s new Twenty20 captain last week but the 29-year-old could not board the...

Return of rugby to Yarrow Stadium delayed until 2022

The return of professional rugby to Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth has been delayed until 2022. The two quakeprone two covered stands at Yarrow have been closed in 2017 and 2018 respectively and its owner — the Taranaki Regional Council — is spending $50 million repairing and upgrading the facility. It was initially hoped to...

West Brom win as Brighton pay penalty amid VAR chaos

WEST BROMWICH, England (Reuters) – West Bromwich Albion secured a 1-0 home Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday as the visitors missed two penalties and were controversially denied a goal by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). West Brom began brightly and were rewarded for their pressure in the 11th minute when...

Martinez says his future is at Inter, ends Barcelona speculation

ROME (Reuters) – Lautaro Martinez is ready to commit his long-term future to Inter Milan after coming close to joining Barcelona last summer, the Argentine striker told Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. Martinez was linked with a move to the Spanish club at the end of last season, but stayed on to play a...

Sport

Fiji 7s review – Baber looking at best options for Olympic games bid