Team Fiji Lawn Bowls Looks For Right Combination

Team Fiji Lawn Bowls is looking at the right combination to take to the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships in June and the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in July and will settle for nothing less.

Section Manager Usa Kalim said they were fortunate to have an experienced High Performance Coach in New Zealander Maurice Symes who  has been with them since the first trials in January.

"Our new coach has been instilling in the team a sense of oneness and togetherness which is also something that FASANOC is also trying to do," she said.

"For Maurice there is no men's team or women's team but just Team Fiji."

Usa said the concept of a one team spirit was really bringing the team together and everyone was performing better than in previous years.

"A player may have very good skills but if they cannot play as a team than this will not do," she said.

"We will take a team that plays together as Team Fiji and not as individuals."

She said Maurice would have the final say choosing the team that will represent Fiji to the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships and the Pacific Games.

During their second trials over the weekend (16 - 17 Feb),eight men and six women participated.

"For the women we have a team of five that will be travelling as well as for the men," Usa said.

"So there is healthy competition as everyone is challenging each other and making it hard for Maurice who has the final say."

Usa said the final ten member squad that will be chosen to participate at the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships may also be the final team to the Pacific Games.

"However this is not a guarantee and will all depend on performance, everything depends on performance."

At the last Pacific Games in 2015, Team Fiji Lawn Bowls managed to win 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals to top the sport in Papua New Guinea.

The team hopes to maintain their status as champions and win more medals in the sport.

Meanwhile the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships is a qualifier to the World Bowls Championships and will be held at the Gold Coast Australia in June a month before the Pacific Games.

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