The Fiji Badminton Association remains optimistic that its two-member team to the Youth Commonwealth Games will gain the much needed international exposure when they compete in India.

The 19 year olds, Chee Ying Wong and Devarisi Sharma both of Natabua High School in Lautoka will experience first hand how enormous and intense the level of competition will be on the international stage.

The pair who are on their final stages of preparations have been getting a lot of support from the fraternity and team manager Lorraine Mar is adamant that the duo will be out to create a remarkable feat.

“The team was unfortunate that an international coach turned down the offer after he was invited to assist the boys with the build-up,” Mar said.

“But we’re grateful that the senior players have shown a lot of support by sharing their experience and ideas. At the moment our biggest setback is exposing the boys to high level competition before the tour and our biggest challenge is to prepare them with the available resources.”

While this will be their first outing in the Youth Commonwealth Games, Mar said that their exposure at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival last year should give them an experience of what to expect in Pune.

“This is the first time that Badminton is represented in the Youth Games and I’m grateful that we’re fielding a team. However, badminton will not be represented in the Mini Games next year so being part of the Youth Games should prime up these young team for the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Pune, India from October 12-18.

Fijilive

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