In the vibrant center of Hong Kong, the 2024 Baseball5 World Cup came to an exciting conclusion, highlighting a familiar figure from the South Pacific. Inoke Niubalavu, who once shone as a player for Fiji’s national baseball team, found himself in a new capacity as he officiated the bronze medal match between France and Venezuela. He had spent the week officiating 15 pool games and utilizing an online scoring application during this second edition of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup.
Niubalavu’s transition from the baseball diamonds of Fiji to the global realm of Baseball5 exemplifies the expanding appeal of the sport and the opportunities it brings to enthusiastic individuals worldwide.
His baseball journey began in the early 2000s when he attended the MLB Australian Academy in 2002. His skills quickly became evident, propelling him to become a vital player for the Fijian national team. At the 2003 South Pacific Games, he stood out with a remarkable .529 batting average and scored six runs—twice as many as any of his teammates. He also represented Fiji at the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa and the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia. Over the years, Niubalavu’s commitment to the sport has only intensified.
By 2009, he took on the role of Development Officer for the Fiji Islands Baseball Association, marking a significant shift from player to sports administrator.
Looking to the future, Niubalavu is dedicated to advancing Baseball5 in Fiji, especially with the sport set to debut at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. He is keen to prepare Fiji’s youth Baseball5 team for the upcoming qualifiers. As Baseball5 continues to expand, with the next World Cup planned for Italy in 2026 and an increase in participants to 16 teams, Niubalavu’s dual role as a national leader and international official places him at the forefront of the sport’s development.