Swami Vivekananda College will head to Suva this week with a compact, qualifying squad of 26 athletes as the Nadi zone champions seek to match or better last year’s medal haul at the 2026 Coca‑Cola Games. Head of physical education, music and art and craft (PEMAC) Kamal Swamy said the team has been quietly building momentum despite disrupted preparations from recent poor weather.
“We are preparing well but unfortunately the weather was not on our side, so we missed a lot of training,” Swamy said, stressing that those who made the cut are now putting in extra sessions to bring themselves up to competition standard. “We are taking only 26 students this time — those who met the qualifying distance and time.”
Swamy singled out the field events as the area most likely to deliver points for the school, saying SVC’s throwers and jumpers had shown promising form in final lead‑up sessions. “Yes, I think we are doing very well in the field events, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we get good results there,” he said, adding that focused preparation and targeted coaching have been prioritised for those disciplines.
The college arrives in Suva aiming to at least equal last year’s return of three gold, one silver and one bronze. That modest but meaningful tally has set the benchmark for 2026 and provided motivation for the lean travelling party. Swamy said the school’s objective is not only podium finishes but also to inspire broader student participation in athletics back home in Nadi.
The decision to travel with a smaller squad reflects SVC’s commitment to selection on merit: every athlete taken has met the Games’ qualifying standards. Swamy noted the practical difficulties of sending larger numbers this year, pointing to time lost to weather and the need to ensure those representing the school are competitive on the national stage.
With the Coca‑Cola Games drawing schools from across Fiji to Suva, Swami Vivekananda College’s compact delegation will be one to watch particularly in the field events. Swamy remained cautiously optimistic about results and the longer‑term benefits of the experience for his students. “We will either equal that or we want to do better than that so that we can encourage other students to take part,” he said.