Sport
Fiji nine to join rugby league team
FIJI National Rugby League chairman Peni Musunamasi has confirmed that nine local women rugby league players have been given the opportunity to represent Fiji in their upcoming matches. The national women’s team will play Papua...
‘Sniper’ Singh to defend super welterweight title
FIJI Super Welterweight champion Sebastian the ‘Sniper’ Singh will defend his title against Siliveni Nawai in Nadi this July. South Pacific Boxing Promotion’s Fredy Chand said this would be Singh’s first title defence after securing the belt earlier this month when he defeated Ratu Rakuro Daunivavana in Lautoka. “We expect this to be a really interesting...
Team Fiji to finalise selection for Pacific Games
TEAM Fiji chef de mission Patrick Bower has called on national federation officials to co-operate as they move closer to narrowing down the final team to the Pacific Games in Samoa in July later this year. The final team names were submitted on Wednesday where the selection justification committee will review the selection of athletes....
“Cowards,” Pacific Games Minister responds
APIA, 26 APRIL 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – The Minister driving Samoa’s Pacific Games preparations, Loau Solamalemalo Sio, has defended the Pacific Games Office against criticism directed at its recruitment of key personnel – including the involvement of the brother of the Games Chief Executive Officer. The Minister of the Education, Sports and Culture who is...
PNG Hunters eye Cup
BRISBANE, 26 APRIL 2019 (THE NATIONAL) – PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum has recalled Charlie Simon into the starting side in place of Jerry Teme for the Intrust Super Cup ANZAC Day Round 8 clash against Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park today. Simon, who was effective off the bench over the last two games, rekindles...
Farah in dispute with Gebrselassie over theft at Ethiopian’s hotel
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Mo Farah, who will be running in the London Marathon on Sunday, is in dispute with fellow distance-running great Haile Gebrselassie for failing to help him after he was robbed at a hotel in Addis Ababa owned by the Ethiopian. Farah, third last year and facing a monumental challenge to overcome...
New Zealander wins Lausanne 2020 medal design competition
LAUSANNE, 26 APRIL 2019 (INSIDE THE GAMES) -Lausanne 2020 have announced the design for next year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games following a competition run by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). New Zealand’s Zakea Page was named as the winner of the competition having submitted a design, titled “Beauty in Diversity”. Page claimed he had been...
25th April
Samoa’s beach volleyball squad set for 2019 Arafura Games
APIA, 25 APRIL 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Samoa’s national beach volleyball squad’s preparations for the 2019 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia next week are on track. Coach of the squad, Aaron Alsop, said the Arafura Games 2019 is a international multi-sport event that has attracted participants from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. “This tournament is...
Tiger to return to Japan at Zozo Championship in October
(Reuters) – Tiger Woods will return to Japan for the first time since 2006 to compete in the inaugural Zozo Championship in October, the Masters champion said on Wednesday. Woods called Japan “one of my favourites countries” in a tweet announcing his decision to play the PGA Tour’s first official event in the Asian country....
Rugby Union – No settling for second best, Japan want to win World Cup: Leitch
SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) – A wide smile breaks across the face of captain Michael Leitch as he delivers his “outrageous statement”: Japan are aiming to win the Rugby World Cup on home soil later this year. Despite Japan never having progressed from the pool stages at eight previous World Cups, Leitch says his team will...
English FA ditch champagne for cup winners
(Reuters) – The Football Association (FA) will break with tradition and no longer hand out champagne to competition winners to avoid offending players whose religious beliefs prohibit alcohol consumption. The decision was also taken to avoid handing alcohol to players under the legal age for drinking, which is 18 in Britain. “Winning teams will be...
Juve to ditch stripes after 116 years?
MILAN (Reuters) – First it was the club emblem, where the distinctive bull was removed to make way for a minimalist white letter J on a black background. Two years later, Juventus may be preparing to make an even bigger break with tradition and ditch their famous black-and-white striped shirts after 116 years. Gazzetta dello...
Seven players banned for life over match-manipulation
ZURICH (Reuters) – Seven current and former players from various countries have been banned for life for their involvement in a match-manipulation following an investigation lasting several years, football’s governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. FIFA said the investigation centred around matches which convicted Singapore-based match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting...
PNG 400m sprint king pull out of Pacific Games
PORT MORESBY, 25 APRIL 2019 (POST COURIER) – One door closes while another one opens. And this could be true for Pacific Games 400m sprint champion Nelson Stone. The curtain has fallen down on his colourful sporting career. As a six-year-old growing up in the suburb of Tokarara, Moresby North-west electorate in the National Capital...
Olympian Ravisa expresses interest to switch codes
SEVENS Olympian Timaima Ravisa will be venturing into a new journey from tomorrow as she chases a spot in the New Zealand-based Vodafone Warriors National Rugby League women’s team. The renowned former Fijiana player showed her interest to switch to rugby league after being contacted by Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) to join in the...
2019 Pacific Games: Sporting federations submit names to FASANOC
NATIONAL sporting bodies have submitted their final team member names to FASANOC where the selection justification committee will review selected athletes. Team Fiji chef de mission to Pacific Games said the selection justification committee, which consists of prominent people with sporting backgrounds and legal advisors, have a crucial task of verifying names for the next...
Fiji Pearls wins first test series
THE Fiji Pearls have won their first test series against Singapore 65-57. They led 18-11 in the first quarter, drew 26 all in the second quarter and came firing back in the third quarter 47-42. Five players made their international debut – Ema Mualuvu, Lydia Panapasar, Kaitlyn Fisher, Aliti Toribau, and Grace Korovata. Coach Vicki...
Government to help in Sports journalists training
MEMBERS of the Fiji Sports Journalists Association now have more chance to improve their work, thanks to Government, Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC), FASANOC and stakeholders who took part in the two-day Fiji Sports Media Symposium in Suva. FSMA had been told that Government, through the Fiji National Sports Commission will allocate funds to help...
Tough challenges for Fiji Pearls
AFTER competing at the Commonwealth Games last year the Fiji Pearls will be back in action in a three-Test series against Singapore. With a few months left before the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England, the girls are taking on the challenge against Singapore as they prepare for the 15th staging of the premier competition...
Takayawa ready for judo tourney
THE level of competition gets tougher as Tevita Takayawa continues his fight to secure a spot in the 2020 Olympics in Japan. “This year is the first time for the Asian Championship to be organised instead of our yearly Oceania Championship which is always dominated by Australia and New Zealand,” Takayawa said. “This competition is...
24th April
Skipper Cup: Tailevu confident of a good outing this weekend
DESPITE losing to Suva in the first round of the Skipper Cup competition, Tailevu is confident they can change the game plan when they take on Namosi next weekend. Team manager Lepani Matea said it is crucial for the team to keep the momentum after a lapse of two years away from the competition. “This...
Pearls to play first test series tonight against Singapore
THE Fiji Pearls will play their first test series against Singapore this evening at 7:30pm at the Toa Payoh Sports hall. This is part of their preparation towards the Netball world cup in Liverpool, England. The girls will be involved in a quad series against the Silver Ferns, New Zealand Men’s team and an All...
Obstacles women face in trying to excel in sports
WOMEN participating in sports face negligence, lack of support and discrimination among other obstacles in trying to excel in sports. This was heard during the second day of the Fiji Sports Media Symposium at the Holiday Inn, Suva this morning. The symposium started this morning with a presentation and panel discussion headed by Women In...
Power to unite
The Fiji Sports Media Association symposium outlined some important facts and significant roles that sports journalists play in the country. Permanent secretary of Youth and Sports Maritino Nemani said sports play a vital role in our community in uniting people. “As sports journalists, you play a vital role in our nation because you convey the...
Sharks visit Fiji for friendly matches
THE Sharks in Paradise hockey team is currently touring the country for its Fiji tour which began in Lautoka earlier this week. Consisting of hockey lovers and enthusiasts, the 18-member squad along with family members have been participating in a series of friendly matches in Lautoka, Rakiraki and last night in Suva at the National...
Fiji set for NZ U20
FIJI under-20 coach Kele Leawere expects his side to be put under pressure and stresses possession will be key when they play their first match against defending champion New Zealand during the Oceania U20 Championship in Australia this weekend. “This first match won’t be a walk in the park,” Leawere said. “Possession should be a...
Players suspended after being tested positive
TWO Vodafone Fiji U23 players have been given a three year suspension while one has been given another chance to come out clean after they were found positive in drug tests. Rewa’s Martin Nasova and Ba’s Kini Madigi have been suspended for three years from all levels of football related activities which also includes playing...
23rd April
Oceania U20 Championship: Fiji gets ready for NZ
THE Vodafone Fijian Under-20 side is in camp and ready for their first match of the Oceania U20 Championship against New Zealand. Head Coach Kele Leawere said the team has been working hard and excited the tournament is set to begin. “The boys have got through a lot of work together and now they’re ready...
Fiji FA conducts U23 trials
THE National U23 trials were conducted at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Ba last week. Twenty-nine players were shortlisted from the first trials with a couple of new inclusions attended the four-day trials to show their performances. National head coach Christophe Gamel led the trials with his assistant coach Marika Rodu. Team manager Anushil...
National football U17 march into camp
THE Vodafone National U17 team is in camp at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Ba in preparation for the UEFA U17 Development tournament in Israel later this month. National head coach Christophe Gamel said it is a big opportunity for the boys to experience such a great tournament. “The preparation is going well but...
