Team Fiji are banking on weightlifting and their men’s sevens rugby to win them medals at the Commonwealth Games.

This was revealed by Team Fiji chef de mission Patrick Bower after they marched during the opening ceremony on Wednesday night.

The Fijians were banned from the Games in 2010 but were only allowed to send a small number of competitors to the last games in 2014.

Bower said his team had been welcomed in Australia.

“It really is a special feeling, just wonderful to come to the Games that is so well organised,” he told Radio New Zealand.

“They’re making you feel so at home. The Games village is second to none, they have absolutely everything in place.”

The Fiji’s lawn bowlers arrived in the village first followed by some of their swimmers, who have been training with top Australian coaches at Queensland’s Griffith University, Bower said.

The Fijian men’s sevens team will land on the Gold Coast following this weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens where they are targeting an unprecedented four tournament wins in a row.

“We’ve not won a gold for the sevens at the Commonwealth Games which is surprising because Fiji does so well,” Bower said of the 2016 Olympic Games gold medal winners.

“We’re looking confidently particularly at the men that they may be able to achieve this.

“Also weightlifting is doing fairly well and looks as if we may be able to get a gold or two for the weightlifters.”

Weightlifters and gold medal hopes Eileen Cikamatana and Apolonia Vaivai will be taking the stage next Monday.

Edited by Osea Bola
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