1 week Ago By Marcia Negri
WEIGHTLIFTING SIX Junior lifters returned yesterday after a successful campaign at the Oceania Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships in Melbourne. The junior lifters who left for the Championships last week Wednesday returned yesterday after a successful campaign having all medals in their respective participating categories. Coach Willie Tamasi said they all competed well, “from the group, we won two gold medals, six silver and three bronze.
With Lawrence Oala (55kg) and Ani Gavera (44kg) winning gold medals in the youth categories. Idau Vagi (53kg) winning a silver in juniors. And Lynne Rarua (53kg) winning a bronze in junior and a silver in youth.
And Bede Igo (48kg) winning two silver medals and Velena Ulea (60kg) silver medal. Tamasi added that the Championships is also a good lead-up for them because they’re all preparing for the mini-games. “They’re all running for sports for the mini-games.
It’s a good lead-up for them, giving the older ones a good run for their money.” He added that following this tournament Ani Gavera and Lawrence Oala will be leaving next Thursday to compete in the IWF World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships that will be held in Lima, Peru from April 30-May 5. “Its a good lead up for both of them and we will be leaving on April 24, and have a one-week training camp in Lima, Peru and then compete in the Championships.
” Tamasi added that the six will return to training camp for the Mini-Games while awaiting the Justification Committee to select a final squad for the Games. “We still have a last training camp. “The mini-games are also one of the qualifying events for the Commonwealth Games next year.
Hopefully these young ones can push the senior ones to qualify. But from this team, Idau is going to make the team for the seniors. Overall, we did well.
After the Youth and Junior Championships, we had an Invitational Cup. It was an Invitational Cup which Morea and Dika took part in. Morea smashed the snatch, clean and jerk and total records.
It’s a new category. Unfortunately, Dika didn’t compete. But both of them are back in Melbourne for a one-week training camp.
This is the first competition for the new categories. Every lift they were doing, it was all new records.” Tamasi acknowledged the PrintSol for the uniforms.
They came on board. They wanted to help the young team. Because this is the future of the weightlifting.
We want to thank Mrs Vele, the director of Printsol, for the kind gesture. And also, not forgetting Trukai Industries for their continuous support.”.
