The Baby Pearls under-21 netball team has concluded its participation in the World Youth Cup Oceania Qualifier held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. This event was crucial for teams vying for a chance to compete in the Netball World Youth Cup 2025, which will take place in Gibraltar.
After a week of competitive matches, Samoa emerged as the champion of the qualifiers, followed by Tonga in second place and the Cook Islands in third. These three teams have earned their spots in the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup.
Although Fiji participated in the qualifiers, the Baby Pearls had already secured their qualification for the NWYC by finishing fourth in the previous Youth World Cup. During the Oceania Qualifier, the Baby Pearls played four matches. They faced losses in their first two games against Tifa Moana Samoa U21 and Tonga Tala U21. However, the team managed to secure their first victory against PNG Pepes U21. They ended their campaign with a loss to the host team, the Cook Islands.
Reflecting on the experience, Netball Fiji CEO Vivian Koster expressed her satisfaction with the exposure and gameplay of the qualifiers. She noted that this was the team’s first overseas tournament, and competing against top regional teams has been extremely beneficial for their preparation for the World Youth Cup.
“This is something that they need, to play as much game time together against top teams from the region,” Koster stated. “This campaign has provided much-needed experience; going up against top players from the region, the team has learned a lot, which will enhance their preparation for the upcoming World Youth Cup.”