Five young baseball players from Fiji are participating in the 30th World Children’s Baseball Foundation Fair in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The event, which started in 1989, is being held from July 28 to August 5.
The selected players, all hailing from strong baseball family backgrounds, include Litin Lee from Veiuto Primary, Teitiaki Randolph from Arya Samaj Primary, Sakaia Tauvoli and Isoa Toduadua from Suva Methodist Primary, and Ronald Niubalavu from Stella Maris Primary School. Lee and Randolph are members of the Eagles Baseball Club in Raiwai, while Tauvoli and Toduadua play for the Nadonumai Marines Club in Lami. Niubalavu is part of the Central Hummingbirds Club.
These five players were chosen by the Fiji Islands Baseball and Softball Association (FIBSA) for their consistent activity and commitment in the sport over the years. During the fair, the youngsters are participating in morning baseball clinics run by coaches selected by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, focusing on basic skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Beyond baseball, the event celebrates cultural diversity, with participants engaging in various cultural and recreational activities every afternoon and evening, including a homestay experience in one of nine cities.
A development officer accompanying the team stated, “This is a unique opportunity for some of our young baseball stars and promises to be a life-changing experience. Additionally, we are thrilled with the international relationships we have built with Japanese Baseball over the years, which is arguably the top baseball country in the world.”
The organization’s mission is to promote the values of friendship and teamwork among children globally, fostering these ideals through international baseball fairs, skill development activities, and interactions with like-minded peers.