Papua New Guinea’s weightlifting champion, Steven Kari, has outdone Commonwealth Games record to set his own for men’s 94kg category.
One kilogram ahead of his Canadian opponent, Kari lifted a total of 370kg.
His win sets a new Commonwealth Games record, begging the first gold medal for PNG at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
After missing out on the Rio Olympics in 2016, Kari returned to the weightlifting scene to pick up from where he left off.
It was not an easy match after his Canadian rival, Boady Santavy, lifted 201kg in the clean and jerk men’s 94kg category, leaving Kari with the pressure of securing a much higher lift for a gold medal.
Stepping out onto the podium, Kari looked determined as 216kg was placed on the bar for his final two attempts.
Sweeping the iron bar off the floor holding the weights, Kari skillfully executed his move holding the weights up in the air to qualify for a gold while also setting a new record.
While his Canadian rival showed disappointments of his loss, Kari, celebrated in an emotional triumph, carrying his coach up onto the podium.
The previous Commonwealth record was held by Alexan Karapetyan of Australia in 2001, which Kari beat by 6kg.
