Funding an issue for team

“FIJI Badminton Association’s (FBA) preparations to compete at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas, will be impacted by how many players we can afford to send to compete," said FBA president Barry Whiteside.

“The funding issue makes a huge difference as to whether Fiji Badminton can attend given our current financial position.

“To compete in the team’s event at the games we need to travel with at least five players and one coach or manager. Overall costs including airfares to Saipan would be tough to meet without the traditional support from the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC).

“In the Pacific Games in Samoa, we were very fortunate to receive some corporate sponsorship from Kontiki Finance in addition to support from FNSC and Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) and player levies, which enabled us to assemble a group of players that won gold in the teams event, two silvers and a bronze in the individual events. Seeking such sponsorship may be what is needed to get to Saipan.”

Whiteside said there was an option not to compete in the teams event and just send one to two players for the individual events.

“However, the team’s event really enables our players to get the best out of attending the games as they play many more matches and hence build their experience and skills at the international level.

“Missing out on such an opportunity seems a shame since we are building up our team.”

He said there was also other considerations when looking at the preparations which included the how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted athlete training and access to training venues.

“Clearly our own preparations in 2021 have been at a standstill since the second wave of COVID-19 hit Fiji this April.”