The Fiji Times

Edwards named as first female president of the PCA

LONDON (Reuters) – The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) elected former England captain Charlotte Edwards as their first female president on Thursday. Edwards, 41, led England to World Cup success in 2009 and scored 10,000 runs across all formats in a playing career spanning two decades. “I think the introduction of 41 new female members to...

Former U.S. Olympics coach dies by suicide after being charged

(Reuters) – Former U.S. Olympic gymnastics coach John Geddert, who had ties to disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar and was charged earlier on Thursday with human trafficking and sexual assault, has since died by suicide, authorities said. According to court documents filed in Eaton County, Geddert was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking, one...

Tovata leads after day one of competition

Tovata house currently lead the medal tally at the Queen Victoria School inter-house after day one of competition. The red brigade is in the lead with five gold medals, three silver and three bronze. Rewa house is in second place with four gold medals, four silver and three bronze. In third place is Bau with...

Vakasisikakala’s aim

SUVA Sangam High School athlete Mosese Vakasisikakala is confident of winning a medal for his school despite the stiffness of competition. Representing his school for the first time on the track, the islander from Naroi Village on Moala took first place in the 400 metres intermediate boys final during the school’s inter-house meet at the...

Macunaqio aims high

ISOA Macunaqio has laid down a challenge to fellow 400 metres runners in Fiji after clocking 54.75s during the combined Nabua Secondary School and Suva Sangam College inter-house meet at the ANZ Stadium in Suva yesterday. Macunaqio said finding a suitable training venue was an issue for him in the lead-up to the race yesterday,...

Nabua, Sangam lay down zone challenge

Although gauging their students for the first time during the Nabua Secondary School inter-house meet, teachers were pleased to see the determination of their athletes. “This has been our first official chance to see the capabilities of our student athletes, and also finally have them compete together,” said assistant head of PEMAC Soloila Muavono. Muavono...

SVC set for the finals

WITH the National Schools Swimming Finals back on the calendar, defending boys high school champion Swami Vivekananda College is optimistic of retaining their title. “The students are excited and we are ready to return to defend our title,” said school principal Rajesh Krishna. The Nadi-based school, and top contender in the pool, finished strong in...

Victorians on fire on day one of competition

Students of Queen Victoria School were on ‘fire’ today during the first day of their inter-house at their school grounds in Matavatucou. School principal Joseva Gavidi said it was all about the students to enjoy themselves. Joeli Lutunadokona of Tovata house won the first gold medal today in the 3000 meters event. Results of the...

Sila to come out strong at Triple N Zone

Sila Central High School is eager to put up a strong challenge at this year’s Triple N Zone meet. Head coach Chris Waqa is confident the school can put a strong performance against the traditional leaders in Lelean Memorial School and Adi Cakobau School. “We are optimistic and our students are very enthusiastic,” Waqa said...

Tokyo 2020 organisers warn against big gatherings during torch relay

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Tokyo Olympic Organising Committee said on Thursday they could suspend the upcoming torch relay should big gatherings raise coronavirus infection risks, asking spectators to support by clapping. The toned-down torch relay, which will begin on March 25 and travel through Japan, will be broadcast live to avoid gatherings on streets, Yukihiko...

About 1000 Olympics volunteers quit this month in wake of furor over president

TOKYO (Reuters) – About 1,000 Olympics volunteers have quit over the past month, organisers said, during which time organising committee president Yoshiro Mori quit due to sexist remarks and a new president was chosen to replace him. Volunteers are the backbone of any Games, performing everything from guiding people to venues, translating and driving visitors...

Patel, Rohit put India on top in pink-ball test against England

(Reuters) – Spinner Axar Patel claimed a career-best 6-38 as India bundled out England for 112 on the opening day to take charge of the day-night third test in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Rohit Sharma then helped the hosts weather a top-order wobble of their own to finish an eventful 13-wicket day on 99-3. Rohit was...

Women must be allowed to fight for as long as men, says Shields

(Reuters) – World light-middleweight champion Claressa Shields has called for women’s world title bouts to be the same length as men’s fights, arguing that existing regulations strengthen the argument that women should be paid less. Women’s world title fights are conducted over 10 rounds of two minutes while men fight for 12 rounds of three...

Tokyo Games refugee team to be finalised in June – IOC

BERLIN (Reuters) – The refugee team that will compete at the Tokyo Olympics will be finalised in June from a group of 55 athletes preparing in 12 sports, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday. The IOC unveiled its first team of refugees at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 in an effort to...

No progress made on Joshua clash, says Fury

LONDON (Reuters) – Tyson Fury has played down the chances of a heavyweight unification showdown against Anthony Joshua this year, claiming no progress has been made in fixing the fight. Joshua beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in December to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA titles and set up the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with...

Brisbane the frontrunner to land 2032 Games as talks with IOC start

BERLIN/MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Brisbane took a major step towards being named 2032 Olympic hosts after the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday that the Australian city had been picked as the preferred partner to start talks for the Games. IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC had approved a recommendation of the commission in charge...

Barty party over in Australia amid doubts over top ranking

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – An Australian summer of tennis that promised so much for Ash Barty has ended in disappointment with the local hero falling at the first hurdle of the Adelaide International a week after blowing a golden chance to win her home Grand Slam. World number one Barty exited Memorial Drive on Wednesday after...

Chand claims top prize at invitational tournament

AJESH Chand claimed the top prize during the BSP Life-sponsored Invitational Snooker Breakers Final Championship in Lautoka. Chand, a Land Transport Authority officer, made the highest break of 34 points. He achieved this in the first knockout game against Kritesh Rathod. Chand potted two blacks, a pink and a green. His attempt to sink the...

Numbers increase in Suva volleyball

SUVA Volleyball Association secretary Semaema Lagilagi said the increase in the number of women’s teams in this year’s season was proof of the good work the association was doing to create an equal playing field in the sport. “Since last year’s six-week clinic, we have had a lot of interest from women’s teams outside of...

Boost for Muaniweni

MUANIWENI College principal Sanjelesh Nand believes allowing his students to enjoy their inter-house meet at the ANZ Stadium was in itself a boost for the rural-based school. “This is the first time for Muaniweni College to come out to have their athletics competition at the stadium, and I feel that alone is a big boost,”...

Combined inter-house for Nabua Secondary and Suva Sangam

Nabua Secondary School and Suva Sangam School came together for a combined inter-house at the ANZ Stadium today. Suva Sangam head of PEMAC Cecal Chandra said although it was not new to have a combined inter-house, they were eager to test their students against another school. “It brings out the best in both students to...

Tiger Woods has rod inserted in right leg and is ‘awake and responsive’ after surgery

In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces perhaps his toughest recovery of all. Woods was driving alone through a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal suburbs of Los Angeles, US, when his SUV struck a sign, crossed over a raised median and two oncoming lanes flipped several times before coming to...

Girl power – Khan breaks barriers, is a level three rugby league coach

IN a very male-dominated sport renowned for brazen burly men bulldozing their way across the field, Mahezabeen Farzana Khan is making heads turn. The 37-year-old Nasikawa Vision College principal is a level three rugby league coach. And her passion for the sport was ignited in 2018 when a colleague at the Korolevu, Sigatoka, school encouraged...

Bowlers roll on

THE Coca-Cola National Bowls Open Trips crowns champions at the tournament on Saturday. Semesa Naiseruvati, Rajnesh Prasad and Kushal Pillay for the men. While in the ladies Litia Tikoisuva, Moraiah Tela and Margaret O’Conna rule the division. Games co-ordinator Dan Lum On said this was their first national competition and defending champions Ratish Lal, Abdul...

New changes in the national schools championship

THE Fiji National Schools Swimming Association has made changes in this year’s national schools championship. President Patrick Bower said there would only be two categories and they would be staged on two separate weekends. “For year four (nine-year-olds) to year eight (lower primary\senior primary\lower secondary school) will have their own two days of competition and...

Bower stresses roles and responsibilities

FijI rugby 7s squad members who are hoping to participate at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan were reminded about their roles and responsibilities as members of Team Fiji. Tokyo 2020 chef de mission Patrick Bower, along with Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee president Makarita Lenoa and vice-president Iowane Naivalurua, paid the...

Twins rule

TWINS Josua and Leiana Daudravuni both won the blue ribbon events in the Ratu Sukuna Memorial school inter-house. Speaking on their behalf their father Mosese Daudravuni, said he was in tears when he saw them both winning the senior boys and girls 100 metres events. “I was shocked especially seeing my daughter run,” he said....

New show to Champion the Pacific athlete

Pasifika athletes are making an impact in sporting arena’s across the world, but beyond their feats, what are they passionate about, what do they struggle with and what do they celebrate? RNZ Pacific’s new show Champions of the Pacific aims to showcase more than just their wins and losses. Co-hosts Talei Anderson and Koro Vaka’uta along with sports...

‘No restrictions’ on bikinis for beach volleyball in Qatar after outcry

There will be “no restrictions” against female beach volleyball players wearing bikinis during a tournament in Qatar, the sport’s governing body said on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) after players threatened to boycott. German players Karla Borger and Julia Sude had told radio station Deutschlandfunk that they would boycott the Doha event after being advised they can’t wear...

Other Sports

27th February

Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open with back issue

26th February