Powerlifting

Eleven countries are participating in the powerlifting competition.

Powerlifters compete in three disciplines - squat, bench press and dead lift, each designed to measure different aspects of strength.

Athletes get at least three attempts at each and the winner will be determined by the highest weight total of the best lift in each discipline.

In 2015, hosts Papua New Guinea were dominant, particularly in the women's divisions where they claimed six of seven possible gold medals.

All eyes will be on whether they repeat the feat in 2019.

World powerlifting icon, Linda Pulsan, led the way winning gold plus taking out the Best Female Lifter Trophy award.

Hitolo Kevau, Kalau Andrew and Livingstone Sikoli also won gold medals for PNG in their weight classes, while Henry Kelo, Martin Titus and Anderson Mangela picked up silver and bronze.

80 lifters from five countries competed at the Brisbane Open, hosted by Powerlifting Australia.

Countries represented included Australia, New Zealand, Nauru, Tuvalu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. 

Papua New Guinea meanwhile were shadowed by their opponents grabbing bronze in the two events they competed in.

Alfred Mel and Vagi Henry competed in the 105kg and +120kg finishing third respectively.

Roy Detabena and Jezza Uepa representing Nauru won gold in the 93kg and +120kg respectively. 

While in the 93kg division Ofisa Ofisa of Samoa won the gold and Telupe Isefa of Tuvalu won gold in the 120kg.

In the other final session results, 93kg silver went to Raboe Roland (Nauru) and Teotahi Hinau (Tahiti) got bronze.

He made the comment after the host nation collected four gold and one silver medals in the four events earlier.

Upston said he "felt emotional" because of the effort put into by the lifters.

 He said that he had faith in the power lifters to make the country proud.

"(Lifters) trusted in the programs, believed in themselves and it paid dividend,’’ he said.

 The contracted coach also challenged  the national government to support the code so its potential can be seen.

The competition is being held at the PNG Power Dome (Sir John Guise Indoor Complex).

In opening session, the weight divisions of 47kg (women), 52kg (women), 57kg (women) and 59kg (men) lifted the bar to find the champions.

In the women's 47kg, it was a guarantee first, second, finish for PNG as only two competitors were on the card.

Hitolo Kevau grabbed gold and team mate Navili Benson settled for silver.

Kevau lifted a combined squat, bench press and dead lift total of 240kg, and Benson managed 234kg.

Linda Pulsan is the Pacific Games champion in the 72kg women's powerlifting event.

She will be defending her title this afternoon at the PNG Power Dome (SJGS Indoor Complex).

 Pulsan told Loop PNG in the morning that she does not feel any pressure and will let her lifting do the talking.

Speaking in Tok Pisin, Pulsan added that she will try her best to defend her gold.

Meanwhile, Pulsan said, she felt the nerves of carrying the country's flag, but those disappeared when entering the ceremony arena.