WEIGHTLIFTING Fiji is hoping for a number of Fijian weight-lifters to qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, next month.
Weightlifting Fiji president Atma Maharaj said the weight-lifters had a good performance in the Oceania and Commonwealth Championships last week in Australia.
“All the lifters now have to await the completion of all ranking tournaments by the end of October, before we will know how many of our lifters have qualified for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“Weightlifting Fiji is hopeful that apart from the five lifters who competed in Gold Coast, we may have a few additional lifters who competed at the Pacific Cup International in Noumea in August and those at the Asian Indoor Championships to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
“Weightlifting Fiji have three very capable national coaches in Joe Vueti, Della Shaw-Elder and Henry Elder, who are working very closely to combine their unique individual experiences and strengths around Olympic lifting and strength and conditioning to take our lifters to new heights.
“We also have the services of Paul Coffa at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute where Eileen Cikamatana is currently based, after being found through one of talent identification programs in Levuka.”
Fiji competed in the Commonwealth and Oceania Championships in Gold Coast, Australia last week.
Fiji’s weight-lifters Apolonia Vaivai and Eileen Cikamatana finished on top of the gold medal tally.
“In the Commonwealth Senior and Junior Championships, Eileen won two gold medals in the 90 kilograms while Apolonia won the senior 69kg weight division in very tough competitions.
“In the Oceania Championships, Eileen won two gold medals, Apolonia won the gold in 69kg, Manueli Tulo the 56kg gold and Poama Qaqa won the 62Kg Junior gold,” he said.
“This was the ninth gold medal that Manueli Tulo has won in the Oceania Championships since 2010 to become the second most prolific all-time performer. Poama also settled for two bronze medals —— in the 62kg Commonwealth Junior and Oceania Senior.
“Taniela Rainibogi settled for a silver in the Oceania Junior and a bronze in the Oceania Senior in the 85kg weight division.
“Eight gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals in total in Weightlifting Fiji’s best international performance ever at this level.”
