Weightlifter Apolonia Vaivai aims to win a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

The Taveuni native is having sleepless nights after settling for the silver medal in the women’s 69kg Group A competitions at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan last week.

Vaivai, who was in contention for gold, said the mistake was a technical one from her end and she felt dishearten but content as well with the silver medal.

“It was an easy gold but I messed it up, it was a technical mistake so I had to take the silver.” she said at Nadi International Airport yesterday.

“It hurts because I know that gold was mine so I can’t keep it inside so I have to let it out and keep on going and move on.”

The 26-year-old, who is now ranked number one in the Commonwealth, says she will try to work on her weakness and at the same time  focus on upcoming events.

“My main aim now is the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and I am looking forward to do more competitions and work on my mistakes,” she said.

“There will be upcoming tournaments so, for now, I’m going back to training. I just need to keep my feet on the ground  and also take a short break then back to training.”

Vaivai also broke two senior Oceania records in the Snatch.

She did a Snatch of 102kg in her second attempt and went on to lift 105kg in her third attempt to beat a 17-year record of 100kg set by Michelle Kettner of Australia in March 2000.

In the clean and jerk, Vaivai lifted 116kg to give her a total of 221kg which not only won her a silver medal but Fiji’s second medal in the Asian Games.

Edited by Osea Bola

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