Vanuatu have their eyes on the 2016 Olympics after a breakthrough showing at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Poland.
The pairing of Miller Elwin and Henriette Iatika finished in a share of ninth at the 48-team event, a run that was only ended by the eventual champions from China.
Vinnie Wylie reports:
Going into the tournament, the Oceania champions initial aim was just to make it past the first round. But after beating the host nation in their opening game, the 37th-ranked pairing of Miller Elwin and Henriette Iatika continued their run all the way to the round of 16, finishing above Australia as the top-ranked team in Oceania. It was the first time a Pacific team had ever qualified for the World Championships and Henriette Iatika says they're extremely proud of their performances.
"HENRIETTE IATIKA: It was a very tough game between Vanuatu and China, like the first set. No matter we lost against China, but we're still very happy because we make it to the top nine and especially for us we made our country happy because of the performance."
The President of the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation, Debbie Masaufakalo, says to be the only team to take China to set point proves just how good Vanuatu is. She says the girls performances in Poland proves that, if they'd had the financial support and been able to attend more events to qualify, they would definitely have made it to last year's London Olympics. The next major goal is the 2016 Games in Brazil, but Masaufakalo says the 'road to Rio' can't begin until they get some supporters on board.
DEBBIE MASAUFAKALO: Unless we can find some support and some sponsors then unfortunately our programme will just have to be staying at home for the time being, because it's just been such a huge struggle just to get to these events. One airfare to get to Europe is AUD$5,000 and you times that by 4 it's $20,000. That's a lot of money to have to raise when you don't have the support.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu National Olympic Committee, Henry Tavoa, says the team's exploits in Poland captured the attention of the country. He says they've definitely proved their Olympic credentials and the challenge now is how to build on that.
HENRY TAVOA: Funding is always an issue where the base of the sport's structure is voluntary. And these ladies, these mothers, these champions have gone on, and I would say against all odds, to reach where they reach and it's a challenge for their capacity as players, the national federation's capacity, [and] our capacity as VASANOC to be able to cater for their athletic capabilities now and that is the challenge putting resources together to help such achievement continue for the next few years.
