To be in the top five at the Bir­mingham Commonwealth Games will be a great achieve­ment for Team Fiji weightlifting, says coach Henry Elder.

Elder is optimistic that the two ath­letes, Taniela Rainibogi and Helen Seipua will do their best.

Rainibogi will feature in his second Commonwealth Games is lifting in the 97kg+ category while Seipua will contest in the 87kg+.

According to Elder the two despite COVID-19 managed to mobilise equipment and other resources to continue training during the lock­down.

Elder has indicated that the duo are in the top 10 in the Commonwealth Games.

“We are going straight into the fi­nals, no eliminations for them, un­like other sports,” Elder said.

“That’s an achievement in itself, so we are really proud of them.

“We aim to get better performance, it’s going to be very tough as there are a lot of good athletes out there.

“If we do things well on the day, eve­rything right, there is a possibility of us getting a third place, so fingers crossed that everything goes well so we can get a podium finish.

“With Helen, she is young and a new lifter, this will be the first big event for her. She participated in the World Juniors when she was just about three months into weightlift­ing.

“Now this is after four years of training so it’s a big thing for her. Her category is stacked with a lot of stars, a lot of people who are well established, in the 87kg+,” he added.

The team leaves tomorrow transit via Sydney, Brisbane, Dubai then to England.

“In the last Commonwealth we won a gold and bronze.

“This one here we looking to get on the podium, as I said if all goes well we will get anything in the top five is a good achievement in itself.”

The weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games start on July 30 and ends August 3.

The Games starts on July 28.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj