More than 100 players participated in the Badminton Fiji Secondary Schools tournament held at the Yat Sen School Hall in Suva over the weekend. This year’s competition saw representation from 11 schools forming 16 teams, a significant increase from the previous year’s event, which included only three schools and five teams.
Tournament director Robert Loo expressed his enthusiasm for the high turnout, indicating that the growth reflects the tournament’s expanding reach. “It’s a major increase for us with our new committee, so with this tournament, we are spreading to a lot more,” Loo stated.
The competition featured six schools from Suva: Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School, Saint Joseph’s Secondary School, Jeremiah Raibevu College, International Secondary School, Marist Brothers High School, Yat Sen Secondary School, and Suva Grammar School. Additionally, teams from the north included Labasa College and Lekutu Secondary School, while Swami Vivekananda College represented the Western Division.
Loo noted that some schools were unable to participate this year due to the upcoming school holidays, prompting discussions about adjusting the timing of next year’s competition. “We are hoping to shift this major tournament to the middle of Term Two next year so that we can have more numbers because during term three, most of our secondary school students have to go on holidays. We want it to be held in the middle of the year when everyone is active,” he explained.
Looking ahead, an exciting national badminton tournament is set to take place this week, promising to engage more players and continue the momentum built through the recent secondary school competition. With the commitment to adapt and the evident enthusiasm from the participants, the future of badminton in Fiji appears bright.
Leave a comment