The heavy downpour in the Capital yesterday caused the Fiji Swimming to cancel the first of two mini meets planned for the first quarter of this year.
Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said this was supposed to be the first of two mini meets planned for the beginning of this year, however, due to the adverse weather and poor turnout of swimmers, there will now be a combined meet scheduled for March 23.
“The purpose of this meet is to give swimmers an opportunity to establish times because we are planning to compete at the Oceania games in April,” he said.
He said that the meet being cancelled yesterday would give the swimmers more time to prepare and compete at the highest level.
“So those who are aspiring to be part of our four-year training squad for the next Pacific Games and those who believe who can put in best times and bid for a spot in the Olympics, they are eligible to compete in these events,” Rova said.
Rova commended Kelera Mudunasoko and Hansel McCaig, for their performance at the World Aquatics Championship in Doha recently.
“They did pretty well even though there wasn’t enough time for them to prepare because after the Pacific Games we took a little break, but the times they achieved in Doha was very impressive.”
Rova said they now have big plans for the swimmers and up next is the Open Nationals during the Easter weekend at the Damodar Aquatic Centre in Suva before the Oceania Games in April.
He says there are plans to send the swimmers to the Australia and New Zealand championships.
“These two are both scholarship recipients so we are hoping to send them out to Australia and New Zealand to compete before they leave for their scholarship programs.”
