Ballu Leads Team Fiji to Honiara
All 24 National Federations (NF) have shown their interest to participate in the 24 sports offered at the Solomon Islands Pacific Games in Honiara, which is from November 19 to December 2, next year.
This was confirmed by Team Fiji Chef de Mission Ajay Ballu following his appointment yesterday.
Ballu was appointed by the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) executive board.
He indicated plans are in place to contingent of 530 people with 480 are athletes.
Of the 24 sports, there are eight team sports, which includes rugby sevens for both men’s and women’s, rugby league nines, basketball, volleyball, touch rugby, beach soccer, hockey and netball.
“All national federations have confirmed their participation for now.
“NF’s will be required to submit their team selection criteria, which will be heavily scrutinised,” he said.
“We will also look at working with the High Performance Commission to administer fitness tests for the teams to ensure only those athletes who pass these tests become selected members of Team Fiji.
Team Fiji was placed fifth at the last Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in 2019 and will be looking at finishing in the top three in Solomon Islands.” Ajay Ballu Team Fiji Chef de Mission
“This includes members of teams, so athletes, coaches and team managers must realise that we are not going for a holiday and if they do not meet the requirements, they will not be going.”
The sports to be played at the Games are: archery, athletics, basketball, 3x3 basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, football, beach soccer, futsal, golf, hockey, karate, netball, outrigger canoeing, powerlifting, rugby league nines, rugby sevens, sailing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, touch rugby, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball and weightlifting.
“Team Fiji was placed fifth at the last Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in 2019 and will be looking at finishing in the top three in Solomon Islands,” Ballu added.
Coaches and team managers must undertake Oceania Sports Education Program (OSEP) courses if they wish to be part of Team Fiji.
“A reminder that any team manager or coach hoping to be a part of Team Fiji will have to undergo OSEP courses or their equivalent if this is their first time taking up a role or have a valid certification from 2018 to date.”
The OSEP team manager’s course began on Tuesday and will be held throughout the week.
Four positions for Team Fiji general managers for the Games will be advertised soon.
Meanwhile, senior Team Fiji administrator Jane Wong-Niubalavu and Ballu will be travelling to Solomon Islands next week to attend the Chef de Missions’ meeting to inspect the venues and accommodation.