Weightlifting

Trukai announced on the eve of the Games as an incentive that 5000 kina would be given to every PNG weightlifter that won gold. 

13 gold medals were won in weightlifting. 15 000 of the 65 000 kina went to Thelma Mea Toua who snared three gold medals.

Trukai general manager of sales and marketing Andrew Daubney said Trukai had no doubt in PNG’s weightlifters during the Games and would continue this support into the future.

“13 gold medals is outstanding. Providing incentives for athletes pushes them to train harder and come out triumphant,” said Daubney.

Carlo in his report to the Pacific Games Council (PGC) Annual General Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea yesterday said swimming one of the major attractions at any Pacific or Oceania meet is not on the programme.

“We had discussions with the Pacific Games Council executives on deleting swimming, there’s also a big question mark on  weightlifting because you know the small countries would like to have weightlifting because its their medal winning event.”

Elder sister and multi-event gold medallist Dika Toua won her latest gold in the women’s 53kg category at the PNG Power Dome on Sunday evening.

Now she is pleased to see her younger sisters Thelma and Konio following her lead, after Thelma collected three golds in the women’s 48kg earlier the same day.

“It’s overwhelming to have my small sisters having the same interest as I do in the same sport,” said Dika.

Two more gold medals are on offer in the 105kg division in the Pacific Games weightlifting final day.

Zac Gregurevic (Australia) won silver and Rory Taylor (New Zealand) settled for bronze in the snatch.

PNG lone entrant Geshe Heni managed to lift only 80kg in the snatch. 

The 105kg men's division will kick start the day’s activities.

Gashe Heni is the only Papua New Guinean competing.

The favorite for the event is Australian Zac Grgure.

A short time ago, the seats were 95 percent empty but spectators are slowly moving in.

The snatch category of the 105kg competition will start shortly.

He topped the bar in the clean and jerk and the overall total while Malek Chamoun won gold for Australia in the snatch.

Opeloge's experience pushed him to edge out crowd favorite Chamoun.

Chamoun, who is a blind athlete, had all the spectators cheering him on stage.

PNG weightlifter Lelo Nou Rei missed his chance of a bronze in the clean and jerk after dropping the bar at his third attempt, which nearly turned nasty for the young man but he was able to get up and walk away.

Meanwhile, the women's 69kg will start soon.

Malek Chamoun (Australia) a blind weightlifter, raised the bar at 139kg to top the snatch challenge.

The silver medal was won by Petuna Opeloge (Samoa) and Liam Larkins (Australia) got bronze. 

PNG's best lifters in the 85kg snatch were Jarah Matagu Gabi and Lelo Nou Rei. Medals for the clean and jerk are being contested

The powerhouse Hanuabadan will be aiming to add to her tally in the clean and jerk and overall total.

Mea is the favourite for a clean sweep in the 69kg division. With the heaviest weight on the bar in the division she had only herself to beat.

She failed her first lift of 83kg, but easily lifted the bar in her second attempt to win gold. The silver medal went to Vanessa Lui (Samoa) with a lift of 82kg, and New Zealand got bronze, lifting 76kg.

The Clean and Jerk challenge for the 69kg is taking place.

The weightlifting competition venue for the XV Pacific Games is the PNG Power Dome (Sir John Guise Stadium indoor complex).

PNG women competing in the 69kg division are Geua Melissa Oru and Noi Bernadette Igo. Other events scheduled to take place are 85kg (men) and 75kg (women.)

Guba Mea Hale will also take part in the 69kg women's division.

Meanwhile, PNG weightlifter Fred Oala came third in the clean and jerk, winning bronze.

Representing the Federated State of Micronesia (FSM), Minginfel came first in the snatch and overall total. The snatch winning lift was 120kg and the total combined weight for gold was 276kg.

The clean and jerk gold medal was won byTevita Tawai with a 157kg lift.

Meanwhile,the next weightlifting finals for today will be the women's 58kg division.