Trials set to select weightlifting’s Team Samoa

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 06 July 2017, 12:00AM

The Samoa Weightlifting Association will be having National Trials in front of Island Rock Company at Tufuiopa this coming Saturday at 8am.

The trials are to select a team that will represent Samoa in the Commonwealth and Oceania Championships on the 2nd September in Brisbane, Australia.

In an interview with the President and Coach of S.W.F. Tuaopepe Asiata Wallwork said he is looking at a team of 10-12 lifters and two more managers to take to this event.

“The Oceania and Commonwealth Championships; it’s very important,” he told the Samoa Observer.

“This is one of the events that will help our lifters prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

“Most of the seniors and some of the outstanding juniors will try and get in the team but not everyone will because this is the trial to select the best team and then look at a few juniors because there are some of the juniors that are challenging the seniors. 

For instance Feagaiga Stowers, she is challenging Iuni Sipaia - that’s how good she is now.

“She’s improving fast and she is now with her family she’s no longer with Samoa Victim Support any more.”

Asked about Mary Opeloge, Tuaopepe said she is still injured.

“Mary Opeloge is not competing she is not 100 percent but if she doesn’t go to these Championships then she can’t go to the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“This is the main competition she has to go but at the moment she can’t do it so we’ll see how it goes.

“We have also been invited by the Weightlifting Federation in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan so we have already selected our team and two weeks after that is the Commonwealth Oceania Championship. 

We have about 8-10 lifters so we are training for both the Commonwealth Oceania Championship and the special invitation from Ashkhabad.

“So all that we have done was training and then we have the trials this coming Saturday and then we will be camping for six weeks.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 06 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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