Overseas-based lifters must compete in local competition

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

AS part of their qualification for Rio Olympics the three overseas-based lifters are urged to compete in the local monthly competitions organised by the PNG Weightlifting Federation (PNGWF), PNGWF vice president and technical adviser Frank Robby says.

Robby said the three lifters are sisters Dika and Thelma Toua and male lifter Udia Toua who are currently back home after spending last year at the Oceania Weightlifting Training Institute in Noumea, New Caledonia.

He said the monthly competition was important for the local and the overseas-based junior and senior lifters who are preparing for the Oceania Championship in Fiji from May 21-25 where a senior male and a female lifter must qualify for Rio.

“During last month’s competition it was disappointing to see only the local lifters competing excluding these three senior overseas-based lifters,” Robby said. “During the meet we also found out that most of the local lifters had gone overweight and this is not a good sign as we only have two more trials to go before we announce the final squad for the Oceania Championship.”

He said for the last two previous trials he had already sent the results of the junior and senior lifters to the Institute’s director Paul Coffa.

Coffa set a target for these three lifters to be in line and it is disappointing to see that these three lifters did not compete, Robby said.

“I will be sending this month’s results and it is a must that these three lifters compete or else their going back to Noumea and the Oceania Championship would be in doubt.”

He said Coffa had instructed him that for Thelma to be considered she must lift 70kg for snatch and 85kg for clean and jerk. Dika must lift 70kg for snatch and 100kg for clean and jerk while Udia must lift 120kg for snatch and 160kg for clean and jerk. 

A final squad of 15 male and female junior lifters and 15 male and female senior lifters will be announced in April for the Oceania meet where PNGWF is looking forward to qualifying a senior male and female lifter for Rio.

Two other senior lifters Morea Baru and Fred Oala are already at the Institute training.