2 days Ago By Marcia Negri
WEIGHTLIFTING: AN eight-member squad left for Fiji on Saturday to participate in the Weightlifting Commonwealth Championships. The team led by golden girl Dika Toua, will begin their campaign today and finish off next week (September 17-23). PNG Weightlifting President Dika Toua said they are taking a small team across to compete, “we are taking four youths and seniors along with our coach and Thelma Toua is also going along as the team manageress and we are hoping to bring back some medals.
” Toua said for the four juniors that are participating, they are all starting out their careers and hope they do their best and let the results speak for itself. “Most of them are part of our development squad, young Lawrence, Ani, Idau and Velena apart from myself Morea Baru, Thelma Toua and Ian Nauari and we will all be coached by Gavera Morea, he is the assistant national coach and taking the team across to Fiji.” “They are all new as they’ve only attended the National Junior Championships and the Oceania, Youth and Junior in New Zealand last year in February, and so this also serves as a good lead up for all these juniors and we are hoping that most of them make it into the Mini Games team, So, this is sort of a lead up competition for us to see where our athletes are and I’m so proud of them for achieving this milestone as athletes and young kids who aspire to do weightlifting.
“I’m grateful as the president for PNG Weightlifting and I hope that they do their best.” Toua said they did not participate in the last Championships (2022 &2023) and so are hoping to do well at the championships. “Their competition is tough, we are having all the Commonwealth countries come and compete with us, England, Canada, Wales we’ve got India, Malaysia you know all the top weightlifting countries are coming down to compete with us, our competition is quite tough but we are looking forward to it.
” Participating athletes: Women’s 40kg category Ani Geua Gavera – 13 years old, 3rd international event Current champion in the 40kg category Gold in Apia, Samoa At the Oceania, Youth Junior and U23 competition, Gold in NZ for the Oceania youth 40kg category, Broke the National Record of 60kg clean and Jerk at our last monthly Club competition in Hanuabada. Now attending her 1st ever Commonwealth Championships in Suva, Fiji. Lawrence Reva Oala – Mens 49kg youth champion – 3rd international event Gold in Samoa Gold in Auckland, NZ Ian Gahuna Nauari 55kg Category is the current Oceania Champion.
Idau Vagi was the Bronze silver medalist at the last 2023 Oceania championships and Gold in the Juniors. Morea Baru current Oceania Champions and 5th in the Olympics at the Paris Olympic Games. Thelma Mea Toua current champion in the women 45kg category Dika Toua will be competing alongside young Idau Vagi in the 49kg category in the Seniors while she will be also in the Junior category.
Last but not the least, Velena Ulea our newest squad member. Competing in the Mens 49kg category for Youth and 55kg for Juniors and Seniors. Coached by Gavera Morea the assistant National Coach.
Thelma Toua athlete is also taking the responsibility as the Team Manageress..
