Catered For
pp. 63-64 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Sports Fans Well
From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, August 10.
A CONSIDERABLE variety of recent or Planned sporting activities are cur rently exciting sporting fans in Fiji—and
that means f)0 per cent, of the population!
Heading the list of recent events, as the average young male Fijian sees it, was the heavyweight boxing title fight of July 37, when Army sergeant Isimeli Radrodro, light-heavyweight champion of the Orient and lately back from Malaya, challenged and' defeated Atunaisa Camai bau, heavyweight champion of Fiji, in a 13-round contest at Suva.
This fight created enormous interest in Fiji, and took place before a packed house in the Lilac Theatre.
The battle went the full 13 rounds, but the challenger was clearly superior, win ning 10 of the 13 rounds and gaining the title on a points decision. Isimeli was defeated by Atunaisa four years ago, but has had considerable experience over seas during the past two years, defeating American Negro Roy Brooks for the Oriental title in Singapore during that time.
A women’s hockey team from Auckland, made a quick tour of Vitl Levu and Levuka, to win or draw all games played).
The play was in all cases interesting and local teams profited by meeting the superior strategy of the visitors, who appeared to save much energy as com pared with the agile locals.
Meanwhile, during recent weekends, Suva’s 18-footer yachts have been fighting it out in races to decide the boats that will represent the Colony at the J. J.
Giltinan World 18-footer title event, to be raced next January at Auckland. It will be recalled that the event was raced last year at Suva. Two or possibly three boats will go from Suva, and the finals should be decided by late August.
Across the island at Nadi the interest is directed towards horse-racing, which came to life with the Coronation race meeting of the newly formed Namaka Racing Club. Members of the airport
Isimeli Radrod.ro, Light Heavyweight Champion of the Orient, and, since July Heavyweight Champion of Fiji. —Photo by Prasads Studio, Suva.
staff are there showing interest in owning horses. Second big meeting of what promises to be a regular snort, took place on August 8.
Also in August, an Australian Rugby team arrived by air to make a quick tour of Viti Levu, drawing large crowds to that most popular of all sports in Fiji.
Planned for next January, a Fiji cricket team will tour New Zealand, p’avine 17 matches at places throughout both islands.
A manager and 14 players will make the tour.
Next March the British Columbia Rugby Union of Canada will spend 830,000 to import a Fiji rugby team by air, and rush it round British Columbia and Northern California on an eight to 10-game tour which, it is believed, will attract enormous interest —and good profits.