Mea hails Kari comeback

Hanuabada Weightlifting Club founder Douglas Mea has described Steven Kari’s record-breaking gold medal victory at the Commonwealth Games as a great comeback from a two-year hiatus.
Competing in the 94kg division, Kari snatched 154kg and recorded 216kg in the clean and jerk to bring his total lift to 370kg, smashing the Commonwealth Games record by 11kg.
Mea, Kari’s uncle, said he was unable to watch Kari’s victory on TV.
“The news was relayed to me by (Oceania weightlifting coach) Paul Coffa,” he said, as he sat in his wheelchair among his family outside his home at Hanuabada in the National Capital District.
“We are all excited about Steven’s achievement.
“Steven made a name for himself when he won the 2014 Glasgow Games, and rocked the Oceania and Pacific Games.
“It was not easy for Steven to make a comeback to the arena after going in his own way in 2016.
“But he came back, put his head down and recommitted himself.
“And to snatch the gold medal is reward for his hard work and desire.”
Mea said Kari had told him that after the Commonwealth Games, the 24-year-old was considering a role as a coach and trainer for young weightlifters.
“I told him not to retire, but to prepare for the World Championships and the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa,” he said.
Mea thanked Trukai Industries and PNG Olympic Committee for contributing to the success of the country’s weightlifters, especially Kari, Dika Toua (silver) and Morea Baru (silver).
“We are planning a welcome reception for Steven, Dika and Morea when they arrive on Monday,” he said.
According to RNZ, an elated Coffa said: “He’s just like a son to me.
“He stayed with us for 10 years and he wanted this medal at all cost. No one was going to take it away.
“We needed 216kg.
“If it was 220kg, he would have gone for 220kg. You know the eye of the tiger?
“The way he came out, no one was going to stop him.”