Cikamatana Dropped
Makitalena Cikamatana has been dropped from managing the Weightlifting Fiji team to the Oceania Championships in New Caledonia on June 24.
Cikamatana, the mother of Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Eileen was appointed by Weightlifting Fiji to manage the team.
In a letter to WF yesterday, Levuka Weightlifting Club president Peni Tawai questioned Cikamatana’s dismissal.
“Weightlifting Fiji’s general secretary Ritesh Ratiram emailed Mrs Cikamatana on May 29 stating that she is no longer going to the Oceania Championships as a team manager but instead will be replaced by Della Shaw,” he said.
“Ritesh gives no concrete reasons for the above changes to Mrs Cikamatana.”
While the sport wishes to remain silent on the issue it is understood the dismissal of Cikamatana was on the boycott threat towards participating in the championships.
WAY FORWARD
Weightlifting Fiji will be running its final ‘Give Weightlifting A Go’ today at the National Fitness Centre, Suva.
Weightlifting Fiji general secretary Ritesh Ratiram said the programme is to help them look at the next generation of lifters and to also develop depth in the sport.
“This is an exciting time for the sport as we’ve won medals at the Commonwealth and world level and have secured the services of a world-class coach and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games gold medallist, to help develop new talent to their full potential,” he said.
“We are also looking for new lifters between the ages of 16 to 19 to prepare for the 2019 IWF Junior World Championships, which Fiji will host in Suva, in June 2019.
“We’re calling out to school children, rugby players and anyone interested to seriously take up the sport of weightlifting for all age groups to come to the National Fitness Centre, adjacent to the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
“ The athletes who did turn up over the last two Saturday’s have been absorbed into the clubs and are now training on a daily basis with coaches Della and Henry Elder. This is a good time to join the sport, as the 2019 World Junior Championships will start in exactly one year’s time.
“Please bring your sports gear and your good pair of canvas for the programme,” he added.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: anasilinir@fijisun.com.fj
