To get the chance of playing at a high level competition is what motivates Team Fiji Squash athlete Marika Matanatabu, who will participate at his first Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
The squash competition commences tomorrow where Marika is drawn in Round 1 to play Jake Kelly of the Cayman Islands.
The 26-year-old Naioti, Yale, Kadavu native who was based in Australia in the lead up to the Games, is currently the No.1 ranked male squash athlete in Fiji having won all the competitions he’s played in Fiji since his return to the sport in December 2019 after a four-year break.
“Like all athletes, I am grateful for this opportunity because it allows me the chance to compete with well known international athletes in the sport,” he said.
“I hope to repay my national federation and the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee for the faith they have placed in me to represent my country.”
Marika said while he saw this as an opportunity to participate in a high level competition, he would strive to do his best in every game he would play.
“Taking part in the Commonwealth Games is not only a great opportunity but it also has its responsibilities. Mine is to be an inspiration to other squash athletes and showcase that we can compete at such a high level.”
Growing up in Lautoka, Marika started playing the sport since he was a junior at the Northern Club under the guidance of Rita and Ratu Wiliki Takiveikata.
Marika, who was based at the Daisy Hill Club in Brisbane, trained under the guidance of Bradley Hindle, and is ranked 13th at Daisy Hill and 24th in Queensland.
Team manager Michael Irava said initially, Squash Fiji indicated that they would not be sending a team to the Games given the time frame, but was encouraged by the World Squash Federation through Oceania Squash, to consider participation..
“After putting together a case for the top ranked national male and female players for FASANOC to review, Marika met Team Fiji’s selection criteria hence his selection for the Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately we missed out on fielding our women’s number one player” he said.
“We’re grateful to FASANOC for the consideration in the case of squash and also for facilitating support from the PacificAus Sports Partnership in Australia, which assisted Marika’s preparation in Queensland in the lead up to the Games.”
In 2018, Team Fiji Squash also participated at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia. FASANOC acknowledges the support of all our partners towards Team Fiji’s preparation and participation at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
They include the Fiji National Sports Commission, Oceania National Olympic Committees, PacificAus Sports Partnership, Commonwealth Sport, Griffith and Birmingham Universities, Nike and FASANOC sponsors in Fiji.
