WEIGHTLIFTING Fiji returned from Samoa with valuable international experience and stronger clarity around its Commonwealth Games prospects following the Samoa 2026 IBFC Universal Weightlifting Cup, Senior, Junior and Youth Oceania Championships, and Commonwealth Youth and Junior Championships held in Apia from April 27 to May 2.
The competition, which featured lifters from 11 Oceania nations, proved to be a major testing ground for athletes vying for qualification to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
For head coach Henry Elder, the campaign was less about medal counts and more about identifying which athletes could handle the pressure and demands of international competition.
“This was a great success,” Elder said. “Many of our athletes were competing internationally for the first time, especially at youth level, so to see them perform the way they did was very encouraging.”
Among Fiji’s standout performers was Taniela Rainibogi, who broke the Oceania snatch record and equalled the Commonwealth record during the competition. He also secured silver and bronze medals at the IWF Universal Cup.
Poama Qaqa also delivered consistent performances, winning three bronze medals in the men’s 71kg division at the IWF Universal Cup and another bronze medal at the Oceania Championships.
Fiji’s younger athletes also showed promising signs for the future.
Iowane Claude claimed gold in both the Oceania Youth and Commonwealth Youth men’s 94kg division, while Mereia Turaganivalu earned silver at the Oceania Youth Championships and bronze at the Commonwealth Youth level.
Israel Mario added to Fiji’s strong showing with gold in the Oceania Youth category and silver in the Commonwealth Junior division.
Meanwhile, Miriama Taletawa narrowly missed the podium after finishing fourth in the senior women’s 86kg category at the IWF Universal Cup.
While the results were encouraging, Elder said the tour also highlighted the importance of exposure at elite level competition, particularly for younger lifters.
Fiji travelled with 25 athletes, many of them under the age of 16, supported by only two coaches and two managers.
Sharing competition platforms, training areas and daily routines with Commonwealth, Oceania and Olympic-level athletes gave the younger squad members a clearer understanding of the standards required to compete internationally.
The performances in Samoa strengthened the credentials of several Fiji lifters and provided a final opportunity for Oceania athletes to improve their IWF rankings ahead of Commonwealth Games qualification for Glasgow.
With the qualification window now closed, Weightlifting Fiji is shifting its full focus toward preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
The federation is prioritising athlete health, technical refinement, mental preparation and increased international exposure through overseas competitions and high-performance training camps as lifters prepare for the demands of Commonwealth-level competition.
