FIJI won its first gold medal in the 2017 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan though weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana in the women’s 90 kilograms category over the weekend.
The 18-year-old lifted a total of 253 kilogram with a snatch of 111kg and a clean and jerk of 142kg.
Cikamatana also set three new records in the Commonwealth Senior Championships, Commonwealth Junior Championships, Oceania Senior Championships and Oceania Junior Championships.
“My mum and dad have been the ones who have motivated me every day and have always given me words of encouragement,” Cikamatana told FASANOC.
“They have been there for me from the start and have not been able to attend any of the competitions that I compete in.
“So everytime I go up on that stage they are the only two people who are in my mind and they are the ones that I want to make proud because everything that I do, I do it for them. I really want them to come and see me perform which is why I am aiming to bring them to the Commonwealth Games next year. I would give anything to see them sitting in the stand watching me.”
She said she was not expecting to break records in the tough competition.
“This win and getting a gold for Fiji means a lot to me. When I came into the competition I only focused on whatever my coach would tell me,” she said.
“I did not expect to break any records because the competition I was going up against was tough and these athletes compete at the highest level.
“But I stayed focused and I was ready for whatever was going to be thrown at me and the support from the crowd.”
