Team Fiji Badminton Receives Major Boost

Team Fiji Badminton received a major boost in theirpreparations for the upcoming Oceania Championship and 2019 Pacific Games witha sponsorship from YD Sport, a Korean based sports apparel company.

Her Excellency South Korean Ambassador, Shin-hee Cho lastweek presented Badminton Team Fiji athletes with playing bags, playingequipment and competition uniforms on behalf of YD Sport worth over USD10,000.00.

Fiji Badminton President Barry Whiteside said they werethankful for the support from YD Sport and the Embassy of the Republic ofKorea.

"The sponsorship from YD Sport would ensure that ourathletes are well equipped and have the opportunity to perform to the best oftheir ability," he said.

Mr Whiteside said they would use the equipment and the upcomingOceania Championships to gauge athletes before they choosing the final Team forthe 2019 Pacific Games. The final selection trials will be held during the FijiGames in April. He said with the mixture of youth and experience in the team hewas confident that the team would do well in the upcoming Oceania and PacificGames.

“In last year’s Oceania Championships, Team Fiji Badmintonwon a bronze medal in the Women's Team event and this year we hope to improveon that result.It is a good competition because it is very important that ourplayers get that opportunity to play against top players from the regionincluding Australia and New Zealand," Mr Whiteside said.

H.E Shin-hee wished the Badminton team the very best intheir training efforts and preparations for the Oceania Championship and 2019Pacific Games later this year.

Meanwhile, Team Fiji Badminton recently returned from atraining camp held over the weekend at Uprising Resort.

National coach Brent Munday along with athletes hoping tomake the team to the Oceania Championship and 2019 Pacific Games underwent anintense physical training and team bonding session.

Team Fiji Section Manager, Karyn Gibsonsaid the training camp was part of Coach Munday's 10 day intensive trainingcamp which besides the physical training also focused on athletes’ mentalpreparation.

Kayrn said they would use the Oceania Championship toprepare athletes for July's Pacific Games.With a team size of 4 males and 4females, Karyn said they would take only the best once the final trials aredone by April.

The Oceania Championship will be held from 11 - 17thFebruary in Melbourne, Australia while the Pacific Games will be held in Julyin Apia, Samoa.