White sox readyt o fight for Olympic dream
Thursday 1 February 2007, 4:23PM
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PRESS RELEASE. It has been over six years since the 2000 Sydney Olympics but New Zealand Community Trust White Sox captain Fiona Timu has no trouble recalling the magical time.
The 2000 Sydney Olympics was the one and only time the White Sox have been part of the Olympic experience but Timu is determined to change all that with the 2008 Beijing event in mind.
“The Olympics are the biggest tournament on the planet it is a really big deal and 2008 in Beijing maybe the last one for softball so it makes it even more special. It is very important that we qualify for the future of the game,†says Timu.
The White Sox fly out of Auckland on Friday on their campaign to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. The New Zealand team will contest the Asia/Oceania qualifying event in Tainan City, Taiwan from February 1st – 7th.
For the qualifying event six teams Chinese Taipei, Singapore, South Korea, Philippines, DPR Korea and New Zealand will compete in a double round robin with the top two teams going on to contest a best of three finals series. Victory in the best of three finals series books a place in the 2008 Olympics.
Timu is in no doubt about how hard the qualifying series is going to be with all the entered sides desperate to be in the Olympics.
“It is going to be tough and while we will be looking closely at Chinese Taipei as the toughest opposition it is important that we prepare ourselves for all the teams.â€Â
For the qualifying campaign new NZCT White Sox coach Dean Rice has recalled a number of experienced players such as Jackie Smith, Lisa Kersten and Kim Dermott. Timu is confident that experience factor will prove valuable during the qualifier.
“We all realise how important qualifying is and we can’t wait to go and do what we have to do to perform well. I think we are in good shape for the campaign we have a couple of players in the squad who haven’t played for a while but at the end of day it is just for this campaign and I think they are going to shine.â€Â
On Friday when the team fly out they will first head for Melbourne where they will play a number of warm up games before heading to Taiwan for the start of the qualifier on Thursday February 1st.
Pitchers: Ali Arnold Canterbury, Michelle Kingi Counties Manukau, Sheree Cartwright Hutt Valley.
Catchers: Jackie Smith North Harbour, Kiri Shaw Hutt Valley
Infield: Fiona Timu North Harbour, Shirley Povey Hutt Valley, Lisa Kersten Hutt Valley, Upu Lote Hutt Valley
Outfield: Nadia Mauriohooho Hutt Valley, Melanie Hulme Canterbury, Melisa Upu Hutt Valley, Brooke Cutting Wellington, Brooke Lockhart Canterbury, Kim Dermot USA
Utility: Togi Lote Hutt Valley, Amelia Rika Auckland
Dean Rice Head Coach North Harbour
Roman Gabriel Assistant Coach Auckland
Lyn Lockhart Manager Canterbury
Kath McGilbert Video Analyst Otago
Christine Nukunuku Scorer Auckland
Sarah Fanuatanu Physiotherapist Auckland
The 2000 Sydney Olympics was the one and only time the White Sox have been part of the Olympic experience but Timu is determined to change all that with the 2008 Beijing event in mind.
“The Olympics are the biggest tournament on the planet it is a really big deal and 2008 in Beijing maybe the last one for softball so it makes it even more special. It is very important that we qualify for the future of the game,†says Timu.
The White Sox fly out of Auckland on Friday on their campaign to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. The New Zealand team will contest the Asia/Oceania qualifying event in Tainan City, Taiwan from February 1st – 7th.
For the qualifying event six teams Chinese Taipei, Singapore, South Korea, Philippines, DPR Korea and New Zealand will compete in a double round robin with the top two teams going on to contest a best of three finals series. Victory in the best of three finals series books a place in the 2008 Olympics.
Timu is in no doubt about how hard the qualifying series is going to be with all the entered sides desperate to be in the Olympics.
“It is going to be tough and while we will be looking closely at Chinese Taipei as the toughest opposition it is important that we prepare ourselves for all the teams.â€Â
For the qualifying campaign new NZCT White Sox coach Dean Rice has recalled a number of experienced players such as Jackie Smith, Lisa Kersten and Kim Dermott. Timu is confident that experience factor will prove valuable during the qualifier.
“We all realise how important qualifying is and we can’t wait to go and do what we have to do to perform well. I think we are in good shape for the campaign we have a couple of players in the squad who haven’t played for a while but at the end of day it is just for this campaign and I think they are going to shine.â€Â
On Friday when the team fly out they will first head for Melbourne where they will play a number of warm up games before heading to Taiwan for the start of the qualifier on Thursday February 1st.
Pitchers: Ali Arnold Canterbury, Michelle Kingi Counties Manukau, Sheree Cartwright Hutt Valley.
Catchers: Jackie Smith North Harbour, Kiri Shaw Hutt Valley
Infield: Fiona Timu North Harbour, Shirley Povey Hutt Valley, Lisa Kersten Hutt Valley, Upu Lote Hutt Valley
Outfield: Nadia Mauriohooho Hutt Valley, Melanie Hulme Canterbury, Melisa Upu Hutt Valley, Brooke Cutting Wellington, Brooke Lockhart Canterbury, Kim Dermot USA
Utility: Togi Lote Hutt Valley, Amelia Rika Auckland
Dean Rice Head Coach North Harbour
Roman Gabriel Assistant Coach Auckland
Lyn Lockhart Manager Canterbury
Kath McGilbert Video Analyst Otago
Christine Nukunuku Scorer Auckland
Sarah Fanuatanu Physiotherapist Auckland