WE are positive of our chances.
Swami Vivekananda College (SVC) swimming team manager Vika Bakewa said this ahead of the Fiji National Schools’ Swimming Association Primary and Secondary Schools’ National Swimming Championship which starts in Suva today.
The defending girls’ high school champion is optimistic of retaining its title at the two-day event which will be held at the Olympic Pool in Suva.
The Nadi-based school is one of the favourites in the overall secondary school’s competition after having being runner-up to boys’ champions Marist Brothers High School last year.
“This year was very challenging in the sense that in Nadi, there is only one pool which we can use, which is at the Nadi Sports and Social Club,” said Bakewa.
“Our coach had to find pool space and timing so that we could fit in because the pool is used by the club members and the other swimming clubs in Nadi.”
According to Bakewa, the school’s management had been extremely supportive towards the team’s preparation for the championship.
“We had to sacrifice our Saturdays and we were training two days a week – Monday and Friday as the pool space is limited.
“We have high expectations from the school when it comes to swimming as we are the defending champion in the girls’ division and runner-up in the boys.”
She said they should face stiff competition from Saint Joseph’s Secondary School and other schools as well in the girls’ division with MBHS, a strong challenge for the boys.
The school won 28 gold, 35 silver and 37 bronze medals last year.
They were the overall winners of the competition in 2018.
