Weightlifters hoist Central to top tally

WEIGHTLIFTING has lifted Central to number one spot on the medal tally following their 22-gold medal haul at the PNG Games last night.
Central topped the overall medal tally with 35 gold, 20 silver and 18 bronze medals to lead the nearest rival NCD by 16 gold medals.
Weightlifting technical official Lakani Oala assisting sports competition manager Iwila Jacobs said Central dominated in weightlifting.
He said Central raced away from the nearest rival, EHP with seven gold, five silver and five bronze medals.
NCD, who dominated the sport in the past Games, finished third with six gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze while Chimbu came fourth with five gold, six silver and four bronze in weightlifting.
Other medal winners were AROB who picked up four gold, three silver, six bronze while host, WNB won one gold, six silver and one bronze.
Morobe won only three bronze medals.
Other provinces did not win any medal despite taking part in the weightlifting competition.
Those who missed out include Milne Bay, Northern, SHP, Gulf, ESP, Madang, ENB, Manus and West Sepik.
Oala said there was a lot of talent on show and it was now up to the national federation to work with local associations to give the potential weightlifters a chance to improve and move
on to become representative athletes.
Lifter Hane Kila who broke the junior PNG Games record won three gold including the record in 61kg snatch, followed by Charmaine Michael.
Another female weightlifter who stood was Toksy Amepa of Eastern Highlands.
Centrals’ Tau Daure, the only contestant in the women’s 91+ won three gold medals.
Joseph Lahui (62kg), Rarua Mea (69kg) and Lelo Nou Rei (85kg) stood out for Central in the men’s competition making a clean sweep in all disciplines — snatch, clean and jerk plus the total.