Morea Baru

Morea Bags Silver For PNG

The three-time Commonwealth Games sensation lifted 121kg in the Snatch and 152kg in the Clean and Jerk scoring a total lift of 273kg in the Men’s 61kg division finishing second to Malaysia’s, Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin who scored 285kg. 
India won bronze with a total lift of 269kg.

PNG's Baru sets new record in weightlifting

Competing in the men’s 61kg division, not only has the Hanuabada man contributed to PNG’s spoils but he has also set a new total record of 284kg in the Oceania Championships and Commonwealth!

OCEANIA RESULTS

Men 61kg A

1. Gold - PNG (new Oceania Record)

2. Silver - Solomon Isl

3. Bronze - Samoa

COMMONWEALTH RESULTS

Men 61kg A

1. Gold - PNG (new Commonwealth Record)

2. Silver - Solomon Isl

3. Bronze - Samoa

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Trukai praises weightlifters for brilliant performance

As the proud sponsor of the PNG Weightlifting Federation for over 20 years, Trukai Industries celebrated the weightlifters’ victories along with PNG.

Repeating his feats at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, Steven Kari snatched gold in the Men’s 94kg Division and broke the Commonwealth Games Clean and Jerk record in the process. 

Dika Toua and Morea Baru were also magnificent in capturing silver in the Women’s 53kg and Men’s 62kg divisions respectively.

VIDEO: Parkop congratulates Kari

The Governor made special mention about the outstanding medal performances by Steven Kari, Dika Toua and Morea Baru.

PM congratulates PNG athletes

PM O’Neill applauded every athlete who has made it to the games and said the country is behind them all the way.

"I congratulate all athletes who qualified for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.

"We know a lot of sweat and sacrifice has been required to reach to the Commonwealth Games and each of you must be congratulated.

“So far we have two silver medals in weightlifting events. I congratulate Morea Baru and Dika Toua for their tremendous efforts to win silver in their weightlifting events.

Baru snatches PNG’s first medal at Gold Coast Games

This makes Baru the twelfth recipient of a medal in the history of PNG’s participation at the Commonwealth Games.

Baru lifted a total of 286kg to settle for the silver behind Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bidin while the bronze medal went to Talha Talib of Pakistan.

He was the favourite and was confident of pushing for the gold medal but fell short by 2kg after only managing to clear 159kg in his second attempt of the Clean & Jerk category.

Baru breaks Oceania record

A fired up Baru cleared 129kg, two kilograms more than the old record which was held by Marcus Stephen since 1991.

Baru also won the Clean & Jerk category with a lift of 120kg which was his total after dropping his  two attempts. Baru’s total of 249kg also gave him the gold in the overall tally.

The win sets Baru in good stead in his preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 which he has been working hard towards.

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PNG weightlifters currently top Commonwealth rankings

They all reached results which place them currently first in the ranking list.

Sisters Thelma and Dika Toua now rank first in the Commonwealth in the 48kg category and 53kg category respectively.

Morea Baru is also ranked first in the Commonwealth in the 62kg category.

Another weightlifter Toua Udia is currently placed fourth in the Commonwealth rankings in the 77kg category.

Oceania coach Paul Coffa indicated that even though three out of the four lifters won their categories, they have so much more to spare and are yet to put up their best performance.

Baru returns home

He was met by family, friends and fellow weightlifters, including four-time Olympian, Dika Toua.

Baru is the first from the Team PNG delegation to return.

The rest of the team will follow in the coming week.

Baru said he will be at home for a couple of months before returning to the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Noumea, New Caledonia, to prepare for the XXI Commonwealth Games in 2018 in Gold Coast Australia.

Waiwai hails Baru’s performance

These were the words from PNG’s weightlifter, Morea Baru, straight after his lift at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Baru’s performance on Monday in the men’s 62kg division catapulted him into 6th place in the world.

This feat has matched the performance from Dika Toua, who also finished in 6th place at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Chef de Mission for Team PNG, Emma Waiwai, who was on hand to watch Baru lift, said she was extremely proud of his performance.