Tennis body focuses on grassroots development

THE acting president of Fiji Table Tennis Association has pointed out that the association would be embarking on a massive development program to scout for future talents and ultimately groom and nurture them to represent the country for regional and international competitions from next season.

Narendra Lal said the FTTA was confident that Fiji could become a dominant force in the sport.

“It’s no secret that we need to have a solid system in place,” he said.

“We need to have many qualified table tennis coaches in the country.

“There has to be many players playing the sport also.

“We have to be good in all age groups.

“Fijian table tennis players playing at a younger level should be able to grasp the exact tactics by taking a longer route instead of only focusing on racking up titles.

“It has to begin from school, to the provincial level and finally to the national team.

“Our main goal related to sports participation is to include and resume sports with other districts in the sport and to search and develop talents throughout the nation.

“We’ll reach out to talents nationally as it is included in our strategic plan.

“It will enable us to have people from a wide area involved in table tennis as an inclusive sport including our social players because we have upcoming development and competition opportunities for them.”

THE chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji Dr Subhash Appana has strongly advocated for all the stakeholders affiliated with the sport to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Appana said it was advisable to be compliant with the ‘no jab no play’ policy in an effort to have professional boxing staged again sooner rather than later.

“There’s no other option,” he said.

“Everyone needs to be fully vaccinated with both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The current protocols pertaining to the novel coronavirus pandemic require everybody to be double vaccinated.

“We have to follow the guidelines in order to sanction professional boxing programs in the country.

“The guidelines are there to protect the safety of boxers, officials and the spectators alike.

“We’re strongly encouraging those who are eligible to get vaccinated to have the vaccines.”

He said he was elated with the advances science had made to battle the virus.

“It’s so important to build everyone’s trust that the vaccines are safe and effective against the COVID-19 virus.

“We’re going to have to be safe although not everyone agreed with the mandatory vaccination rule.

“If the professional boxers intend to continue their career in the sport they have to be vaccinated.

“I believe the vaccines are one of the biggest contributors to be safe from getting seriously ill, hospitalised or even death from a killer virus.”

All sporting activities were suspended in early April because of the emergence of a second wave of a killer virus and for future sports participation in the country the ‘no jab no play no watch’ applies including the spectators.