Weightlifting Fiji has been left surprised in their search for champion lift­ers by the number of untapped tal­ents that exists around Fiji.

Strength and conditioning coach, Henry Elder said there is genuine excitement about what the new pool of young athletes can achieve in the next four years.

He indicated that that despite the low medal prospects at July’s Pacif­ic Games in Samoa, Weightlifting Fiji is hoping to take a full team for the competition.

The withdrawal of some top Lev­uka- based athletes, including 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal­list Eileen Cikamatana, from Team Fiji participation has been a set-back.

However, Elder says the body has moved on from the issue, in the pursuit of further developing the sport and discovering new talents.

“The door for the Levuka lifters to Samoa is still open; but we’ve three more trials remaining and if they miss the next one then that door will close,” he said.

“We have some raw and genuine talents in Fiji. They have all the attributes to become champion lift­ers and only need the proper guid­ance.”

A shadow team to the Samoa games was named yesterday but, with three more trials to go, spots are still wide open, Elder said.

“Nothing is certain yet. We keep telling everybody when you’re sit­ting on the plane then you know you’re going.

“I want to thank all the athletes for taking out their time to attend the trials. And also to anyone with the physical attributes for weight­lifitng– who’s fast, explosive and strong– contact us and we will fa­cilitate you in the sport.”

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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