Long serving netball administrator Kiti Bogidrau has died. Photo: World Netball
The netball world is paying tribute to long-serving administrator Wainikiti Bogidrau.
Kiti Bogidrau died on Tuesday, aged 56.
World Netball said Kiti Bogidrau began her netball administration journey over 20 years ago and served as the President of Netball Fiji from 2010 to 2020.
She was also appointed to the World Netball Board at Congress in 2019 as Director of the Oceania region.
"Kiti has been an integral part of the netball family for many years and during this time has made many friends," World Netball said in a statement.
"[She] has held a number of crucial leadership roles, which have led to significant developments within Fiji, the Oceania region and within World Netball.
"Kiti had a true love for netball, playing throughout her life and spectating whenever time permitted, alongside her many administration roles."
Netball unions throughout the world have offered tributes, including New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, Namibia and Africa Netball.
Fiji Netball said Bogidrau had a long association with netball in Fiji where she began her netball administration journey over 20 years ago.
"Mrs Bogidrau had a deep passion for netball and led the sport in different capacities with much enthusiasm and energy," it said.
"This passion was felt not just by her Netball Fiji family but by her Oceania Netball family and across the netball world."
Netball Fiji president Wainikiti Bogidrau, right, meets Australian PM Scott Morrisson in Suva last week. Photo: Supplied
Bogidrau campaigned for Fiji netball's progress, saying in 2013 they needed more challenging matches to get better.
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In 2010 she spearheaded the "Friends of Netball" group that raised funds to send the Fiji national side to the World Cup qualifiers in the Cook Islands.
Netball Fiji President RubyAnn Sorovaki said they acknowledge "with much appreciation" Bogidrau's contribution to netball in Fiji and her breakthrough leadership in the sport.
"She will be dearly missed. Our condolences go out to her family during this sad time."
Away from the game, Bogidrau held a number of other positions including on the Fiji National Provident Fund.
The Fund said Bogidrau was a "go-getter".
"She was passionate about a lot of things - whether it was the vanua, sports, school alumni but above all was her passion for her family and her spiritual life.
"The outpouring of grief and messages is indicative of the person that Kiri is and was."