Women in sports

Fijian Women are not exposed to similar types of sporting opportunities as their male counterparts are. For a long time women have been living in the shadows of men when it comes to sports as men have always been provided with the first opportunity in any sports. 

The only sport where it can be said that there is balance in terms of opportunities between males and females is athletics with scholarships being offered every year for both genders to go and make a name for themselves overseas. Former Yat Sen Secondary Milika Tuivanuavou and most recently Adi Cakobau's Ana Kaloucava are two athletes who currently are on scholarships. 

Milika Tuivanuavou                         Source: Athletics Oceania

Volleyball player Agatha Gibbons was also awarded an overseas scholarship when Volleyball Fiji was getting serious about the sport some years back.

Agatha Gibbons                                                                          Source: NMMI

So it was somewhat clear that looking for opportunities such as getting scholarships to go overseas or having regular international games and participating for composure while being a sportswoman was really hard especially when you have more priority given to men in sports.

Enter Netball Fiji! Having difficulties to be able to secure sponsors for regional and international competitions is a thing of the past now that Pearl South Pacific Resort has come forward with a sponsorship of $0.5 million and signed a 3-year contract with Fiji Netball. 

Source: FijiLive

The sponsorship could not have come at a better time with the Pacific Netball Series and U21 World Cup coming up with the Netball World Cup in two year's time.

Source: Fiji Times

Netball players will not have to raise funds in order to participate as they can now only focus on their training and playing their hearts out as it is solely their sport.

The whole nation can now support and hope that the Fiji Pearls show the nature of their talents.