The Fiji Chess Federation is mourning the loss of a very talented and upcoming athlete Russell Taloga who is believed to have drowned in the Navua river near Raiwaqa.
The Deputy President of the Federation Manoj Kumar says he was shocked when he found out from 16-year-old Taloga’s friends that he has been missing.
Kumar says Taloga was good in swimming and basketball.
Taloga along with a USP student Zen Borg were to join Manoj Kumar at the 2017 Oceania Chess Zonal Tournament in New Zealand next week.
Police say Taloga is believed to have drowned while swimming in the river on Sunday afternoon.
A group travelling by boat from Namuamua near Raiwaqa found the body after which the nearby community was alerted on Monday morning.
The post mortem is expected to be conducted to ascertain the cause of death as investigations continue.
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