In the bustling heart of Hong Kong, as the 2024 Baseball5 World Cup reached its thrilling
conclusion, a familiar face from the South Pacific stood at the centre of the action.

Inoke Niubalavu, once a standout player for Fiji’s national baseball team, found himself in a new role –
officiating the bronze medal match between France and Venezuela after 15 pool games of
umpiring, scoring with online scoring application throughout the week long of competition of the
2nd edition of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup.

Niubalavu’s journey from the baseball diamonds of Fiji to the international stage of Baseball5 is a
testament to the sport’s growing global appeal and the opportunities it presents for passionate
individuals from all corners of the world.

Inoke’s baseball career began in the early 2000s when he attended the MLB Australian Academy in 2002. His talents quickly became apparent, and he soon emerged as a key player for the Fijian national team. At the 2003 South Pacific Games, Niubalavu showcased his skills, leading the event with an impressive .529 batting average and scoring six runs – twice as many as any of his teammates.We went on to represent the Fiji Baseball team at the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa and 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia.
As his playing career progressed, Niubalavu’s dedication to the sport deepened.

By 2009, he had taken on the role of Development Officer for the Fiji Islands Baseball Association. This transition marked the beginning of his journey from player to a sports administrator.

Looking ahead, Niubalavu is focused on the future of Baseball5 in Fiji. With the sport set to debut
at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, he is eager to prepare Fiji’s youth Baseball5 team for the
qualifiers.
As Baseball5 continues to grow, with the next World Cup scheduled for Italy in 2026 and plans to
expand the tournament to 16 teams, Niubalavu’s role as both a national leader and international
official places him at the forefront of the sport’s evolution