The Fiji Times

Test for swimmers

- By SITERI SAUVAKACOL­O

FIJI Swimming will send 14 young swimmers who are part of its developmen­t squad to participat­e in the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific (JPP) Swimming Championsh­ip from August 24-27 in Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu.

Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said the competitio­n would provide these young swimmers an opportunit­y to witness and learn first-hand competitiv­e standards required to compete at the internatio­nal level.

Rova noted in a recent statement that a key component of Fiji Swimming’s strategy was the formation of a developmen­t squad that consisted of age-group swimmers who would be expected to maintain required times in their form strokes and push to earn their spots in the senior squad for internatio­nal representa­tion.

Ten female and four male swimmers are part of the side coached by Esther Malani.

After three months of intense training, Malani shared the swimmers were ready to give their best for Fiji and for themselves.

She said this would be the first internatio­nal competitio­n for these young swimmers which would go a long way in developing their confidence and skills as potential future representa­tives for Fiji.

Fiji last hosted the event under the hosting rights of Japan in 2018.

JPP Charter nations include Australia, the US, Canada and Japan who will be sending their top 13-18 year old swimmers as the championsh­ip will feature top age-group swimmers who are at the brink of their respective national level representa­tions.

The team list includes Ofa Lagonilake­ba, Sala Kunatuba, Vivita Bai, Patricia Verebasaga, Eden Waqainabet­e, Faith Tudreu, Tia Mawi, Tagici Sowane, Matelita Naisara, Clothield Muller, Maki’uti Seruvatu, Zion Waqainabet­e, Erik Tokona and Ethan Taylor.

The team departs on Saturday.

 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED ?? Part of the Fiji Swimming developmen­t squad for the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championsh­ip.
Picture: SUPPLIED Part of the Fiji Swimming developmen­t squad for the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championsh­ip.

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