Triple gold for Kiribati weightlifter
Kiribati's Tebora Willy took gold, gold and gold on the first day of competition at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games weightlifting.
In an amazing show of strength, she collected gold in the women’s 45kg Snatch (with a lift of 52kg), Clean and Jerk, and overall events.
Second place went to Konio Toua (PNG) with a lift of 50kg.
Willy also went on to win the Clean and Jerk category, collecting all three gold medals for her nation in the women's 40kg category.
“I'm proud to represent Kiribati and want to dedicate my medals to my family back in Kiribati," she said.
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The Commonwealth junior and senior weightlifting championships are taking place alongside Pacific Games events at Samoa 2019, meaning that athletes from across the Commonwealth are also competing here.
Jhilli Dalabehura, the Indian national champion, never looked threatened in her 45 kg lift. She not only won and became the Commonwealth gold medalist but she did it in style by breaking and setting two new Commonwealth records at both junior and senior level.
When asked about her achievement she said: "I'm very happy and I just love Samoa and how things are going”.
India again demonstrated their power in the women’s 49kg group A category.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the 35-year-old former world champion, was crowned Commonwealth champion and gold medalist.
PNG's Dika Toua claimed silver and Amanda Braddock from Canada got bronze.
However Dika Toua went one better in the women's 49kg group A Oceania, claiming gold in that event. Calma Dalamaya from Guam collected silver and Mala Jaylyn goes home to the Solomon Islands with Bronze.
Dika Toua also won Pacific Games medals in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk categories and overall to claim three golds. Calma Dalamaya from Guam claimed silver and Mala Jaylyn, bronze.
Following the women's events, the men's 49kg group A & 55kg group kicked off.
Elson Edward from Nauru was too strong for his category claiming three gold medals from the Snatch, Clean & Jerk plus winning the overall. It was a dominant performance.
Winning silver in the overall placing was Ian Nauari from PNG and winning bronze in the overall was Walter Shadrack from Solomon Islands.
India again showed dominance with Singh Rishikanta winning gold in the men's 49kg category, which was all the more impressive as he is only 21.
Walter Shadrock from Solomon islands won bronze (overall) and silver (Snatch) while Ian Nauari from PNG won silver (overall), silver (Clean & Jerk) and bronze (Snatch)
In the final category of the day the Women's 55kg group A, the Pacific Games Overall medal went to Mary Lifu from the Solomon Islands.
The silver medalist was Jacinta Sumagaysay from Guam with the bronze to Elizabeth Bisafo from the Solomon Islands.
Oceania champions results repeated the womens 55kg group A overall medal results as Mary Lifu from Solomon Islands again won gold, Jacinta Sumagaysay again taking the silver medal while Elizabeth Bisafo won her second Bronze.
Day 1 of weight lifting at Gym 1, India definitely dominated the women's division winning Gold and setting new Commonwealth records.
Weightlifting continues on Wednesday at Gym 1 Faleata. Entry is $5.
