Five young Fiji Baseball players are attending the 30th World Children’s Baseball Foundation Fair in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
The players hail from prominent baseball families, with two from the Eagles Baseball Club in Raiwai, two from the Nadonumai Marines Club in Lami, and one from the Central Hummingbirds Club.
Founded in 1989 by home-run legends and Hall of Famers Sadaharu Oh and Hank Aaron, along with Dr. Akiko Agishi, the fair’s mission is to promote friendship and teamwork among children globally through baseball. The event aims to cultivate these values through a mixture of skill development and cultural exchange.
Representing the Eagles are Litin Lee from Veiuto Primary and Teitiaki Randolph from Arya Samaj Primary. From the Nadonumai Marines are Sakaia Tauvoli and Isoa Toduadua, both of whom attend Suva Methodist Primary. Ronald Niubalavu from Stella Maris Primary represents the Central Hummingbirds.
The Fiji Islands Baseball & Softball Association (FIBSA) selected these players from its development programs. The World Children’s Baseball Foundation aims to instill a love for baseball, teamwork, and global friendships among young players. Participants will engage in morning baseball clinics conducted by coaches from the World Baseball Softball Confederation, focusing on foundational skills in an engaging environment. Afternoons and evenings will be filled with cultural and recreational activities, including a homestay experience across nine cities.
A Fiji Baseball Development officer accompanying the team remarked that this trip is a unique and potentially life-changing opportunity for the young athletes. He emphasized the valuable international relations developed with Japanese Baseball, which is a leading force in the sport worldwide.
This year, the children will be divided into nine cities for a few days to participate in clinics and stay with host families, under the guidance of World Baseball Softball Confederation-selected coaches.