Baby Pearls Netball team to continue training and preparing despite postponement of World Youth Cup

Netball Fiji remains focused on preparing a formidable team to participate at the Netball World Youth Cup despite the announcement yesterday by the International Netball Federation that the event will no longer take place in June next year, due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Fiji Netball President RubyAnn Sorovaki says while they were looking forward to hosting the world here in 2021, they understand the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the hosting of many events around the world and respect the decision that has been made.

Sorovaki says the national body is also encouraged by the Fijian governments’ commitment to hosting this event at an appropriate time.

She says this commitment continues to support the netball aspirations of our girls and young women.

Sorovaki says Netball Fiji will now look at all avenues available to strengthen the team for when the Netball World Youth Cup does take place.

She says this includes working on a schedule to recruit their National Coach by November, having ongoing talent identified to ensure they have a strong pool of athletes available for future selection, hosting more training camps with the focus on both on and off the court development as well as planning with relevant stakeholders on other avenues of preparation.

In a statement released by the International Netball Federation Minister for Youth and Sports, Parveen Bala says they remain committed to the sporting aspirations of girls and young women in Fiji and across the netball world.

Bala says they look forward to hosting this event at an appropriate time when the world is a lot safer, international travel restrictions have eased and when all teams, and Fiji as your host nation, are certain of reaping a just return on their investment into the NWYC 2021.