Weightlifting

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.

The four athletes include current Commonwealth Games silver medalists, Dika Toua and Morea Baru from Weightlifting and Geoffrey Loi and Tammy Agari from Table Tennis.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) confirmed that the four athletes had qualified through the regional qualification process. 

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, one day after making history as the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medallist, took top billing in an ecstatic nation’s newspapers above reports on a major speech by her president.

But for the 30-year-old being showered with accolades, the story was very different in 2019, when her name was included on a list of people accused of plotting against the same man, Rodrigo Duterte.

Inclusion on the list by Salvador Panelo, then spokesman for Duterte, made Diaz fear for her life, she was quoted by domestic media as saying at the time.

Toua is not new to making history at the Olympics as back at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games she became the very first female to participate in Olympic weightlifting for females.

Toua competed in the 49kg event, at the Tokyo International Forum this morning in the first day of competition at the Games.

Toua, at 37, was the oldest athlete in the field and had to change weight category due to the new Olympic weight categories, at these Games, having formerly lifted in the 53kg category.

The unique annual tournament was sponsored by the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF).

Buoyed the gold medal performances of Dika Toua and Morea Baru at the Australian Open International Championships in Australia’s capital Canberra, youngsters poured into the backyard gym of former national coach, Douglas Mea, at Taora for an early morning weigh in ahead of competition.

The Auckland teenager snatched 94kg and clean and jerked 112kg for a 206kg total, to win all three gold medals in the women's 76kg division.

It really does mean a lot because it just shows that all my hard work is paying off, at the end of the day, and I'm just very pleased with myself and all of my team members."

It was announced by former minister for sports, now minister for lands, Justin Tkatchenko that construction work has resumed over 2 months ago.

Minister Tkatchenko said that with the support of the Prime Minister and NCD Governor, funding has been approved through NCDC to finally get this Outstanding Stadium Finished.

However now that funding has been approved, Curtain Brothers has signed the contract with NCDC and construction has already gone over 8 weeks forward.

The Completion date is the end of October this Year.

Among the outstanding stars at the Vanuatu Games is 17-year-old Samoan weightlifter Fegaiga Stowers, who set a new Commonwealth record in the women's 90kg class by lifting 108kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean-and-jerk for a 239 kg total.

Papua New Guinea's Stephen Kari secured all three gold medals in the men's 93kg category by lifting 155kg in the snatch and 195kg in the clean-and-jerk.

International weightlifting referee Lilly Coffa, a trainer at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in New Caledonia, says the athletes are ready for the Commonwealth Games.

Stowers, who is 17 years old, set a new Commonwealth record in the women’s +90kg, lifting 108kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean and jerk, and 239kg overall.

An emotional Stowers wiped away tears of joy as she climbed atop the podium to receive her three gold medals.

Luisa Peter of the Cook Islands claimed silver in the snatch and overall, while Nauru’s Charisma Amoe picked up silver in the clean and jerk.

In the men’s 94kg, Kari secured all three gold medals on offer, lifting 155kg in the snatch and 195kg in the clean and jerk.

Samantha Hansen from New Zealand secured the gold medal with a score of 163 points, while Maria Liku from Fiji finished second with 158 points securing the silver and Kiribati’s Tiiau Bakaekiri claimed the bronze.

In the 75kg division, the gold medal was won by a woman with a name familiar to many in the weightlifting fraternity. Apolonia Vaivai won gold with a record 215 points, as Hayley Whiting from New Zealand took the silver with a score of 176 points with the bronze going to Australian lifter Philippa Torea Frances Woonton.