Fijian pair end weightlifting Oceania drought

WEIGHTLIFTING Fiji is back to winning ways after scooping two bronze medals in last week’s virtual Oceania Weightlifting Championships.

Sebiuta Talamaiwasa won a bronze in the women's 71 kilogram and Taniela Rainibogi won another in the men's 96kg division.

After a long six-month competition drought, weightlifters from around the Oceania competed through the online live virtual competition from September 23-26.

Host country Australia worked hard in conjunction with Oceania Weightlifting to make the competition possible following several failed attempts to stage the competition in Nauru.

Team Fiji captain Patrick Tawake, in the 81kg category, missed out on a bronze medal win after placing third following the snatch competition and going into the clean and jerk with the next lifter registering 10kg less.

WF said Tawake failed to register a lift in the clean and jerk which left him without a total and subsequently dropping in ranking to fifth.

Daniel Shaw, in the 67kg category, was placed sixth and registered a personal best in the snatch while Solomoni Vira (73kg) finished fifth.

Marian Vira and Jamal Au-Yeung both could not register a total because of weak internet connection and finished fouth and fifth respectively.

Helen Seipua finished fourth in the +87kg category and registered a personal best in both the snatch and clean and jerk.

Olympian Apolonia Vaivai didn't make the weight for her 76kg category and was unable to participate. WF fielded a ninemember team consisting of four women and five men.

Its president Della ShawElder said the five-month lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the overall result.