by Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
PNG weightlifters training overseas arrived back on home soil today, joining their counterparts in time for the games.
Weightlifting will begin on Monday, 6th July, with competition to run for four days.
Dika will compete in the 53kg division, which will see her defend her gold medal title, at the Pacific Games level.
Among her many achievemen’s, which include being the first woman ever to lift at the Olympics in 2000, she also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and is currently ranked number 1 in the women’s 53kg class in both Oceania, and throughout the Commonwealth.
Also returning from the Oceania Weightlifting Institute was junior male athlete of the year, Fred Oala. The young lifter is another prospect to rake in gold for team PNG; currently ranked Oceania’s number 1 male weightlifter in the junior men’s 56kg division, and number 2 in the senior men’s 56kg class.
The athletes were welcomed by Weightlifting President, Sir John Dawanincura, sports minister, team PNG officials, members of the GOC and family members.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=954fFXuusHo%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
