COMMONWEALTH GAMES
In two years’ Team Fiji will be participating at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in England
7/30/2020
In two years time Team Fiji will be participating at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the England, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for 28 July, 2022.
Having won 19 medals since its debut appearance in 1938, Team Fiji hopes to continue to surprise the Commonwealth with outstanding performances.
It took a lad from Tovu, Totoya, Lau in Mataika Tuicakau to put Fiji on the Commonwealth Sporting Map in 1950, at what was then known as the British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand, with an outstanding performance in the field events of discus and shotput winning a Gold and Silver medal.
This was quickly followed up by Bua native Luke Tunabuna who won a Silver medal in the javelin event at the same Games.
Also part of the 1950 team were Bronze medal winners Lionel F Garnett, James E Poulton and
Leslie G Brown who participated in the Lawn Bowls competition. Mr Garnett won his Bronze medal in the singles competition while Mr Poulton and Mr Brown teamed up to win Bronze in the pairs event.
It would be 12 years later before Fiji would win another medal, this time in the sport of boxing.
In the 1962 Games held in Perth, Australia, Team Fiji boxers Moses Evans who fought in the 75kg category and H E Johansen in the 91 kg category, returned with a Bronze medal each.
Eight years on in 1970, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saimoni Tamani won a Bronze medal in the 400 metres Athletics event. Saimoni clocked a time of 45.8 seconds in the final race to earn the Bronze Medal.
Tongan born Fine Sane, representing Fiji, won a Gold medal in the sport of boxing in the 81 kg category 12 years later at the 1982 Commonwealth Games which were held in Brisbane, Australia.
At the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpar, with the introduction of the sport of Rugby Sevens, the team of Eparama Bose, Jope Tuikabe, Ro Doviverata, Rauqe Senirusi, Saimoni Rokini, Setareki Tawake,
Sirilo Ragata, Akuila Tinasau, Marika Vunibaka and Waisale Serevi brought back a Silver medal.
In 2002, in Manchester, England, Judoka Nacanieli Qerewaqa Takayawa won Fiji's second ever Gold medal at a modern Commonwealth Games and fellow judoka Sisilia Nasiga also won a Bronze medal.
The Team Fiji Rugby Sevens team consisting of Epeli Ruivadra, Iosefo Koroiadi, Josefa Uluivuda, Norman Ligairi, Ratu Saukawa, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Saiasi Fuli and Waisele Serevi also added to Fiji’s medal tally with a Silver medal .
Four years later, in 2006, the Team Fiji Rugby Sevens team of Apolosi Satala, Ratu Mataluvu, Semisi Naevo, Sireli Naqelevuki, Viliame Satala, Waisele Serevi, Jone Daunivucu, Norman Ligairi, Neumi Nanuku, Filimoni Bolavucu, Lepani Nabuliwaqa and William Ryder won a Bronze medal at the Games in Melbourne, Australia.
Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009, in accordance with the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which also led to a suspension from the Commonwealth Games. The suspension was eventually lifted in 2014 and Fiji was a late entry into the 2014 Glasgow Games in Scotland, regrettably without a Rugby Sevens team.
However Weightlifting sensation Apolonia Vaivai, won Fiji's only medal at these Games, with Bronze medal.
Fiji competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast, Australia making it Fiji's 16th appearance at the Commonwealth Games. Fiji competed in 12 sports and made their first appearance in the Men’s rugby Sevens tournament after a twelve year absence.
Weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana went on to win the country's first ever Gold medal in the sport and team mate Apolonia Vaivai won her second Commonwealth Games Bronze medal.
The Rugby Sevens Men's team of Paula Dranisinukula, Mesulame Kunavula, Sevuloni Mocenecagi, Alasio Naduva, Amenoni Nasilasila, Kalione Nasoko, Vatemo Ravouvou, Eroni Sau, Jerry Tuwai, Ratu Vakurinabili, Jasa Veremalua, Samisoni Viriviri won a Silver medal and Boxer Winston Hill, in his first Commonwealth Games outing, was a proud winner of a Bronze medal.
Fiji was honoured to be one of two Pacific Island nations to host the Queen's Baton Relay in 2002 and 2017.
Team Fiji is looking forward to participating at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
