Fiji Swimming will send 14 young swimmers who are part of its development squad to participate in the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific (JPP) Swimming Championship from August 24-27 in Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu.
Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said the competition would provide these young swimmers an opportunity to witness and learn first-hand competitive standards required to compete at the international level.
Rova noted in a recent statement that a key component of Fiji Swimming’s strategy was the formation of a development squad that consisted of age-group swimmers who would be expected to maintain required times in their form strokes and push to earn their spots in the senior squad for international representation.
Ten female and four male swimmers are part of the side coached by Esther Malani.
After three months of intense training, Malani shared the swimmers were ready to give their best for Fiji and for themselves.
She said this would be the first international competition for these young swimmers which would go a long way in developing their confidence and skills as potential future representatives for Fiji.
Fiji last hosted the event under the hosting rights of Japan in 2018.
JPP Charter nations include Australia, the US, Canada and Japan who will be sending their top 13-18 year old swimmers as the championship will feature top age-group swimmers who are at the brink of their respective national level representations.
The team list includes Ofa Lagonilakeba, Sala Kunatuba, Vivita Bai, Patricia Verebasaga, Eden Waqainabete, Faith Tudreu, Tia Mawi, Tagici Sowane, Matelita Naisara, Clothield Muller, Maki’uti Seruvatu, Zion Waqainabete, Erik Tokona and Ethan Taylor.
The team departs on Saturday.
