‘Lifters must lift game’

Weightlifting Fiji general secretary Ritesh Ratiram said the sport would be intensifying its training programme to the Commonwealth Games in April. “After our trials on Saturday we have found out that we’ve a lot of work to do in terms of getting our lifters to the level that we want them to compete in,” Ratiram said.

He said they saw a lot of areas that they needed to work on in terms of preparation.

“For instance none of the athletes that participated achieved what weightlifters called ‘6 for 6’ and this is something that we really need to work on.

“That is a term for the completion of six lifts for each lifter where three lifts for the “snatch” and three for the “clean and jerk”. “During the trials, some missed two lifts while others missed three.” Furthermore, he highlighted just how important it would be for lifters in achieving ‘6 for 6’.

“Firstly missing lifts demoralise an athlete and it is also a wasted opportunity to improve their scoring points, because every lift counts.”

He confirmed that four lifters Apolonia Vavai, Manueli Tulo, Puamau Qaqa, Taniela and coach Joe Vueti will be leaving for New Caledonia next week.

They are going over to prepare for the Australian Open before they turn their focus to the Commonwealth Games.

They will join gold medal prospect Eileen Cikamatana at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute as she is training under the guidance of Oceania Weightlifting general secretary Paul Coffa.