FIJI’S Team Va’a contingent to the Pacific Games would be the biggest contingent sent by Fiji Outrigger to an international meet, said section manager Paul Yaqona.
Fiji Outrigger announced a 24-member to Papua New Guinea.
“We are very excited to be able to compete in all 12 outrigger paddling events in both the women and men’s divisions,” said
He said Team Va’a Fiji would compete in the single (V1), six-person (V6) and twelve-person (V12) canoe races over sprint distances of 500m and 1500m.
He said the marathon races covered distances between 10 and 30km.
“The team have been training and participating in trials since October last year” said Yaqona.
“Soon it will be time to put all that preparation to the test and compete for podium places at the Games”.
The Va’a team’s preparations had been assisted through sponsorship from BSP, the major supporter of the 2015 Pacific Games with a $1000 grant.
Yaqona said outrigger paddling was the only sport in the Pacific Games which had a bond with the Pacific people.
He said Fiji Outrigger would like to encourage the growth of the outrigger paddling sport and the development of more junior paddlers in Fiji who had great potential to represent their country at international competitions.
