Eight weightlifters will represent Fiji at the IWF Junior Weightlifting Championships (JWC) in Suva on June 1-8.

The team was finalised after the Fiji Games last weekend. The Fiji Games also doubled up as the National Championships and the final trials for the Pacific Games.

FINAL SQUAD

The full team are as follows; Female- Wini Mekula from Wainimala, Naitasiri (59kg), Rebecca Johns from Serua (64kg), Merewalesi Vusonitokalau from Joma, Kadavu (81kg), Helen Seipua from Tailevu (87+kg).

Male- Maika Taukeinikoro from Serua (61kg), Samuela Nasila from Serua (67kg), Maloni Sadranu from Serua (73kg), Timothy Vakuruivalu from Kadavu (96kg).

OTHER APPOINTMENTS

According to Weight lifting Fiji with the exception of Vakuruivalu, this will be the first major competition for all the other lifters.

Former national weightlifting and athletics rep Iowana Sera Vakaloloma will manage the team at the championships and she is also the section manager for weightlifting to the 2019 Pacific Games.

The coaching staff will be led by Henry Elder, as head coach and Asaeli Tuikenawa and Lavenia Adilutunacawacawa as assistant coaches.

Elder said they’ve started training for the competition and the Pacific Games from last year.

“We had earlier submitted our preliminary en- tries with 14 names but selected these 8 after they met the qualifying standards,” he said.

“This will be Fiji’s largest participation at any World Championships, ever.”

Edited by Sheldon Chanel

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