The Salad Bowl netball festival is set to grow next year by incorporating rugby and volleyball into its program. President of the Salad Bowl netball, Judy Kumar, made the announcement following the success of this year’s event, which saw participation from 36 netball teams.
“We plan to introduce rugby and volleyball next year, and we are aiming to invite teams from Australia to compete against local squads,” Kumar stated. The initiative is aimed at providing local teams with more opportunities for competition and skill development.
“It’s not solely about winning cash; it’s about allowing development teams the chance to improve,” she added. This year’s festival included 12 Under-15 teams, 16 Open Grade teams, and 8 men’s teams, and the planned expansion is expected to enhance the festival experience in 2025.
Kumar also expressed gratitude to the sponsors who contributed to the success of this year’s festival. “A huge thank you to Coastal Rentals, Salad Bowl Island Hire for covering the facility costs, KBL Buses, and Jay Whyte from Sigatoka River Safari for their generous support, particularly for sponsoring cash prizes for the U15 grade and the two best players. We also appreciate the Fiji Sports Council for their kindness in providing the venue.”