Miriama Taletawa, left, and Taniela Rainibogi, right, were awarded the Fiji Sports Council 2023 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively in Suva on Saturday night. Photo: Fiji Government
Fijian weightlifters scooped top honours at the annual national sports awards, demonstrating that the sport getting the recognition it deserves, the head of the sport's governing body in the country says.
Weightlifters Taniela Rainibogi and Miriama Taletawa won the best male and female category awards at the 2023 Fiji Sports Awards in Suva at the weekend.
Weightlifting Fiji president Della Shaw told RNZ Pacific it was an exciting moment for weightlifting when the duo were named as Fiji's top sportsman and sportswoman.
Shaw, a former Pacific and Oceania lifting champion herself, said it was testimony that the sport is growing in the right direction, since she took over in 2019.
"On Saturday, we did the impossible for the first time ever, a sport winning both the sportsman and sportswoman," Shaw said.
"That is a boost for us, a recognition for Weightlifting Fiji. For me taking on this from 2019, I would like to thank the executives, the outgoing executive that had the confidence in me to take on the sport. It hasn't been easy.
"After the 2019 incident, we had a lot of backlash. But I have seen the growth of the sport with our development and I am so grateful for people out there who have continued to believe in the sport of weightlifting.
"We used to have only one club, and we now have reached out and open up five clubs, and we have seen the growth of the sport in Fiji."
The 2019 incident she was referring to was when the weightlifting body had differences with the Levuka weightlifting association, resulting in champion lifter Eileen Cikamatana leaving Fiji, moving to Australia, and switching her allegiance to the green and gold.
Shaw said with that behind them, the work to put weightlifting back on track was challenging and tough.
With government and stakeholders supporting them, the sport is making strides, with positive results across regional and international events, and the awards presented at the weekend a bonus.
Weightlifting Fiji team with their top athletes Miriama Taletawa, Taniela Rainibogi and President Della Shaw (in green dress middle of the group). Photo: Fiji Government
Commonwealth and Masters meet this month
Shaw and her team are now looking forward to hosting the Commonwealth Championships and the World Masters events in Suva from 16 September.
Both events are going to be hosted at the Vodafone Arena in Laucala Bay, with around 700 athletes and 100 officials expected into the Fijian capital.
Fiji is hosting the 2024 Commonwealth championship, which will be held from 17-22 September.
The World Masters will be held from 23-28 September.
Shaw said the event will be a big boost for the sport and Weightlifting Fiji is grateful for all the support they have received.
At the same time fans who want to catch the action can do so free of charge.
"I am so thankful to the government that they have fully supported Weightlifting Fiji. This is a big boost in awareness," she said.
"Weightlifting is viewed as a minor sport, and this will really boost the awareness out in the schools and also the public.
"What we have actually done is we have made it FOC, so anyone can come down and watch this championship.
"We are also writing to the schools because we have some school kids. We are inviting the schools; we want them to come and watch their students."
She said the sport can also be a way to maintain health and fitness, for all Fijians.
There are lifters who competed at the Paris Olympics in July/August who are also expected to be making their appearance at the two events, with some lifters also expected to be taking part in both the events.
Shaw said qualifying for the next Commonwealth games plus the World Championships in Bahrain in December would also be done at the Suva meet.
She said they were hopeful Fijians and fans would turn up to support the events.