Weightlifitng Fiji is currently running an intensive six-week training camp in Apia, Samoa, under the guidance of head coach Henry Elder.
This camp is seen as the beginning of a promising year for the team.
Elder emphasised that the six-week camp is crucial for the six athletes attending as they aim to enhance their skills and gain valuable experience.
The goal is for these athletes to qualify for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
He adds the team will also be competing at the World Cup in Samoa in April, which will serve as the final qualifying opportunity for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Elder says the stacked schedule presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Fiji’s lifters.
“For this year, we’ve got a big year planned. The first major competition for us is in April, that’s the World Cup in Samoa,” said Elder.
“At the same time, they will be running the Commonwealth Championships and also the Oceania Championships concurrently. That’s a big event for us, and it’s the final qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Elder is hopeful Fiji can secure multiple spots for the Games, with qualification standards set high across the Commonwealth.
“Hopefully, we’ll get probably about six athletes to qualify for those Games. For weightlifting, we have to qualify in the top eight to qualify outright, top eight in the Commonwealth.”
He believes that with proper preparation and dedication, the athletes can meet the challenge and come out.
