WEIGHTLIFTER Manueli Tulo is Fiji’s golden boy as he raked in three Pacific Games gold medals for Fiji in the men’s 56kg category at the Power Dome in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea yesterday.
These are Fiji’s first for the 2015 Pacific Games.
For Tulo, the medals were for his son Tevita back home.
“I know he must have been watching me on television and he must be proud of me. This was for him, I love you son,” said a delighted Tulo.
“I know I dropped my first lift but I came back and gave my best. I had come prepared for the lift and had lost concentration”
While Tulo snatched 107kg and did a clean and jerk of 127kg for a total of 234kg.
Poama Qaqa of Fiji settled for two bronze and a silver medal. His snatch of 92kg and total of 213kg earned him two bronze medals while the 121kg clean and jerk ranked him as the silver medal winner.
Elson Brechtfeld of Nauru settled for two silver and bronze medal.
Chef de mission Cathy Wong said it was a good omen for the Fiji team.
“This is the start as there are certainly many more to look forward to. All credit must go to the athlete Tulo who did all the hard work and Poama as well,” she said.
FASANOC president Joe Rodan said this was a good start.
