Fiji’s Six for the Games

FIJI will have six representatives competing at the Empire Games in Canada, one of them, a 17-

years-old school girl, in the women’s broad jump events.

They will leave for Vancouver on

July 14, and will camp at the Uni versity of British Columbia, a few miles from the city. They will re

turn about August 15.

The Colony’s sporting fans are disappointed that Maitaika Tuicakau has been declared medically unfit to make the trip. He is the only Fiji representative to hold a Games title. But hopes are high that this year’s team will return with more honours.

Of the five men, three are javelin throwers, one a discus thrower, and the other a runner.

Members of the team are shown opposite page. Reading left to right, top to bottom, they are: Mesulame Rakuro, 22-year-old head master of a small, village school in the interior of Viti Levu. He is Fiji’s cham pion discus thrower, his best distance being 141 feet. He competed before the Queen last year.

Semi Qio holds the record javelin throw of Fiji, with a distance of 19!) feet 11 inches. He has been the Colony’s leading exponent of the snort for five years. He is a policeman.

Joseva Sadulu. 23, will compete in the 440 and 100 yards races. He set Fiji’s record time of 53 seconds for 440 yards under adverse conditions. He was second in the 100 and 220 yards events at the Fiji championships. He is a cane farmer.

Tito Elo is another policeman and is Fiji’s present javelin champion with a throw of 199 feet 4 inches. He won the javelin event at the Royal Tour meeting with 199 feet.

Viliame Liga, the third javelin thrower, is a 21-year-old student at the Methodist Theological College. He has beaten Elo three times out of six in the past season.

His best distance is 189 feet. He also threw before the Queen.

Sainiana Sorowale (inset), the 17-year old schoolgirl who is Fiji’s woman broad jump champion. Her best distance is 18 feet 4 inches. She will be the first Fijian woman to represent her country in sport overseas.

Mr Arthur Eustace, manager-coach of the team. He is a teacher, and is secre tary of the Fiji Amateur Athletic Asso ciation. For three years he has been organising track and field meetings in Fiji. He coaches the leading senior club.

Nasinu Teachers’ Training College. He was formerly NZ champion and record holder in snrints and hurdle events, and represented NZ at the last Empire Games.

Mrs. Eustace will also make the trip to Canada as chaperone to Sainiana.

The team has been training five days a week under the Association’s coaches, Mr. I Lloyd, Mr. H. M. McMillan and Mr Eustace. The coaches have reported that all competitors have improved m stvle and technique, although there has little effort at maximum times ana distances!* FIJI Public Relations OBce Photos. « contain R. W. Hallam has re sumed duties as master of the MF Polurrian after a holiday m Aus tralia Mr. Charles Balmer has also returned to the ship as second mate It was reported some time a& Captain Hallam had left the Teiu

tory permanently.

V Mr. K. L. Gibson, of Kerr Bros,

r island merchants and

Solomon Islands.