Team Fiji scooped another medal on day six of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England yesterday.
Taniela Rainibogi scooped a bronze medal in the 96kg final of the men’s weightlifting competition.
He had a combined weight of 343kg in the snatch and clean and jerk categories.
The Fijian lifter managed a lift of 155kg in the snatch and 188kg in the clean and jerk.
He missed out on his last attempt in the snatch which could have seen him take the silver medal position on the podium.
The 24-year-old, who hails from Naweni, Savusavu, shrugged off competition from weightlifters from Australia, Cameroon, England and South Africa to secure a third medal for Fiji.
Known in his circles as the ‘Cage Man’, Rainibogi said it was a great feeling to win a medal for Fiji.
“I would like to thank the Lord who helped me reach this stage today. Thank Him for giving me the strength and power to do what I did. I feel great and happy to win this medal for my country,” Rainibogi said.
He said he started weightlifting when he was 13 years old and at the Commonwealth Games this year, he had to win against himself before competing against others.
“The opponents were tough but I told myself that I have to challenge myself before competing with others,” the weightlifter added.
Samoa’s Don Opeloge took out gold with a record lift while India’s Vikas Thakur won silver.
