Young golfer Raina Kumar has her eyes set on one ultimate goal: representing Fiji at next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti.
She made an appearance at this year’s Girmit Open Tournament held at the Fiji Golf Club in Vatuwaqa, Suva, which was held last Friday and finished on Saturday.
Kumar is a third-year MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) student at the Fiji National University.
She shared balancing academic pressure and golf tournaments were challenging at times, in light of the strict schedule she needed to devote towards her studies and time away from it for other activities she had an interest in, such as golf.
While she had common interests with girls at a very young age, Kumar’s other area she devoted her time and commitment towards was on the tee at the golf course.
That was where her golfing journey began and with close sources of inspiration such as her family’s lifelong passion for golf, everything slotted into place.
In an interview, Kumar expressed her excitement in participating at the tournament and revealed she had set a goal to qualify for the 2027 Pacific Games in Pirae, Tahiti.
“This tournament is the first trials for the Pacific Games, which will be next year, so I am hoping to do well,” Kumar said.
She has participated in two Pacific Mini Games and the women’s Amateur Asia Pacific tournament in Wellington, New Zealand.
With tough competition at the tournament, the youngster believes she will be able to secure her place for team Fiji golf at the 2027 Pacific Games that will be held in Tahiti.
Kumar is part of a new wave of young golfers stepping into the sport, as part of plans by senior golfers to bring them in and develop golfing talents who may one day become formidable golfers ready to tee off on the course.
Young golfer Raina Kumar at the Fiji Golf Club during the Extra Supermarket Girmit Open Tournament on Friday, May 15, 2026. Picture: LITIA RITOVA
