Dika Toua competes in the women's 49kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Photo: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP
Some of the Pacific's biggest names in weightlifting will be in action at the New Zealand Weightlifting Festival in Auckland next week, including those who are even chasing spots at the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
Almost 200 weightlifters will compete across 20 different weight divisions categories, including Papua New Guinea's Loa Dika Toua, Solomon islands Jenly Tegu Wini, Australia's Eileen Cikamatana, Samoa's Don Opeloge and Fiji's Taniela Rainibogi will be appearing at the Olympic qualifying event.
The competition starts on Tuesday 20 February.
Oceania Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Paul Coffa confirmed the names were registered to compete in Auckland.
The Festival will have competition in the Oceania Senior, Junior and Youth categories.
Fiji coming in strong
Rainobogi will lead a strong Fiji team to the event as he has his eyes firmly set on Paris.
Fiji Weightlifting head coach Henry Elder said Rainibogi will be fighting to qualify in Auckland following impressive showing at the International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) Grand Prix competition in Doha, Qatar in December.
Elder said they have a team of 13 lifters, including some new and exciting talents who will also compete.
The competition ends on Sunday 25 February.
2024 Oceania Weightlifting Championships final entries here.