Latest News May 2018

BRILLIANT GAMES The 2018 held at the Gold Coast proved to be one of the best ever games. The organisation for weightlifting was impeccable. The stage set up was equal to Olympic Games, if not better. The volunteers at the weightlifting stadium and training venue were superb. All handpicked by the weightlifting manager, Ian Moir. Most of them coming from a weightlifting background.

Congratulations Ian on the magnificent job done , and congratulation also to your team, Craig Wegert, Bowen Stuart, Linda Eades and the many volunteers. The forty international technical officials did a great job under the guidance of Attila Adamfi, Director General of the IWF and Nicu Vlad the IWF Technical Chairman.

The weightlifting stadium at the Gold Coast Sports & Leisure centre. Ian Moir weightlifting manager with his ‘A’ Team.

Competition was fiercely fought with almost ten categories coming down to the very last lift to take the gold. The equipment used was Eleiko. The training venue was beautifully equipped with thirty-five platforms. Transport ran to clock work. The sixteen gold medals were distributed to: India 5, Samoa 2, 2, Papua New Guinea 1, Fiji 1, 1, New Zealand 1, Canada 1, Wales 1, and England 1.

All in all, it was a great games.

For the first time in the history of major multi-sports games there was an equal number of medal events for men and women. This is a significant step toward the realization of the CGF vision for gender equality. In weightlifting, there was equal male and female categories contested. For the first time athletes needed to qualify as opposed to the open entry system used in previous games. A change in competition format and event schedule was implemented by the Commonwealth Games Federation in conjunction with the International Weightlifting Federation which enabled a cost saving environment for the Organising Committee and thereby meeting the objectives of the CGF strategic plan, ‘Transformation 2022’.

A special thanks must go to the President of the CGF, Ms. Louise Martin, Mr David Grevemberg the CEO of the CGF, Mr Darren Hall the CGF Chief Operating Officer, and Mr Andrew Hibbert Head of CGA Relations, for having weightlifting as one of the sports to trial the new system. At the same time we would like to further extend our appreciation to the CGF for inviting the CWF to be part of the Tripartite Committee last October 2017, for the weightlifting athlete allocation and re-allocation processes for the Games.

We thank also the International Weightlifting Federation for its role towards the new system of athlete qualification for Commonwealth Games. This system certainly produced very competitive battles and kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

OUR GOLDEN LIFTERS

Saikhom Chanu Mirabai -India 48Kg Gold medallist Najwa Shanfah Syd Anuar -India 53Kg Gold medallist

Maude Charron - Canada 63Kg Gold medallist Tia – Clair Orr - Australia 58Kg Gold medallist

Punam Yadav -India 69Kg Gold medallist Emly Goodley - England

75Kg Gold medallist

Feagaiga Stowers – Samoa

+90Kg Gold medallist Eileen Cikamatana- Fiji 90Kg Gold medallist

Aznil Muhamad Bidin -Malaysia Muhammad Izhar Ahmad -Malaysia 62Kg Gold medallist 56Kg Gold medallist

Gareth Evans - Wales 69Kg Gold medallist Satish Kumar Sivalingam - India 77Kg Gold medallist

Steven Kari -Papua New Guinea 94Kg Gold medallist

Rahul Venkat Ragala -India 85Kg Gold medallist

Sanele Mao- Samoa David Liti- New Zealand 105Kg Gold medallist +105Kg Gold medallist

THE DAUBNEY WOMEN TROPHY - The magnificent women team trophy was won by England by one point over India. This trophy was donated by Mr. Andrew Daubney and is a perpetual trophy. India won it for the first time in Glasgow. The trophy itself is worth $35,000.

The famous TRAFALGAR TROPHY – men team trophy - which has a long history in the Commonwealth Games weightlifting, was introduced in 1974 at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games and again this is a perpetual trophy as well. New Zealand won it in 1974, Australia in 1978, Australia 1982, Australia 1986, India 1990, Australia 1994, Australia 1998, India 2002, Australia 2006, The Daubney Women Trophy The Trafalgar Men’s Trophy India 2010, India 2014, and India 2018. The trophy itself has a very large green jade rock and currently worth AUD$70,000.

CWF ELECTORAL CONGRESS The CWF Electoral Congress was held on April 4th at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort in Carrara. The Congress was attended by thirty-eight countries. The results of the elections were as follows:

PRESIDENT: Dato Ong Poh Eng – Malaysia

VICE PRESIDENTS : EXECUTIVE BOARD: GENERAL SECRETARY Dr Kevin du Plooy – South Africa Della Shaw -Elder - Fiji Paul Coffa MBE Garry Marshall – New Zealand Dr Michael Irani - England AUSTRALIA Tom Liaw – Singapore Philip Maunder - Australia Jesmond Caruana - Malta Robert Rose - Seychelles ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Sir John Dawanincura -Papua New Guinea John O.Ogolla - Kenya Trent Dabwido Shri Birendra Prasad Baishya - India Andrew B.Callender Barbados NAURU Ben Nunoo Mensah - Ghana COMMITTEES: Ibrahim Bangura – Sierra

Chairperson: Technical Sam Coffa -Australia , Chairperson: Medical Dr Moni Kami -Tonga, Chairperson: Masters Coral Quinell -Australia, Chairperson: Women Gardencia du Plooy -South Africa , Chairperson: Marketing Andrew Daubney -Australia, Chairperson: Coaching & Education Lyn Jones -Australia .

Many VIP guests attended the Congress. From the International Weightlifting Federation there was President Dr Tamas Ajan and General Secretary Mr Mohammed Jalood , as well as the IWF Director General Mr Attila Adamfi and Mr Nicu Vlad Vice President IWF. Two regional IOC Members Dr. Robin Mitchell from Fiji and Ms. Auvita Rapilla from Papua New Guinea. Mr Andrew Minogue the CEO of the Council. The European Weightlifting Federation President, Dr. Antonio Urso accompanied by the Director of Administration of CONI, Dr. Alberto Miglietta from Italy. Sam Coffa, President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation and Deputy Chairman of the GOLDOC Organising Committee. From the Commonwealth Games Federation we had Mr Darren Hall Director of Corporate Services and Mr Andrew Hibbert, Head of CGA Relations. From the Oceania Region the OWF President the Hon. Marcus Stephen. From the Eleiko company the Technical Director, Mr Stefan Berg. From the CWF, Mr Michael Noonan CWF Statistician. From Trukai Industries, Mr Andrew Daubney and from the AWF, the President, Mr Craig Wegert.

During the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the 2019 Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth will be held in Samoa in conjunction with the Oceania Championships and the Pacific Games. The 2020 Commonwealth Championships will be held in India.

These are the committees selected by each Chairperson:

Coaching & Education – Chairperson, Lyn Jones has selected Keith Morgan (England), Jerry Wallwork (Samoa), Andrew Callender (Barbados) Technical – Chairperson, Sam Coffa has selected Hafiz Butt (Pakistan), Heather Allison (England), Garry Marshall (New Zealand), Ahmad Mohyuddin (Bangladesh), Moira Lassen (advisory capacity) Medical – Chairperson, Dr. Moni Kami has selected Dr Michael Irani (England) and Dr Danielle Barwood (Australia).

38 Countries attending the 2018 CWF Electoral Congress on the Gold Coast on April 4th IWF President and IWF General Secretary in attendance.

From left: Dato Ong Poh Eng CWF President, Mr Attila Adamfi IWF Director General, Hon. Marcus Stephen OWF President, Mr Darren Hall CGF Chief Operating Officer, Mr Sam Coffa President ACGA, Mr Mohammed Jaloud IWF General Secretary, Mr Paul Coffa CWF General Secretary and Mr Ian Moir Weightlifting Manager .

VIP Guests at the CWF Electoral Congress: from left Mr Attila Adamfi (IWF),Hon Marcus Stephen IWF & OWF VIP Guests. From left Mr Mohammed Jaloud (IWF (OWF), Dr Robin Mitchell (IOC Member), Ms Auvita Rapilla (IOC Member) Dr Antonio Urso (EWF), Gen. Secretary, Dr Mike Irani (IWF Board Member), Hon Marcus Dr Alberto Miglietta (CONI), Mr Andrew Minougue (PGC), Mr Stefan Berg (Eleiko), Mr Michael Stephen (OWF President), Dr Tamas Ajan (IWF President) with Noonan (CWF). CWF President Dato Ong Poh Eng and Sec. General Paul Coffa.

Dato Ong Poh Eng President CWF, presents a gift to IWF Dato Ong Poh Eng presents an appreciation Dato Ong Poh Eng presents a gift to the IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan plaque to Darren Hall, CGF Chief Operating Officer. General Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Jaloud.

DAVID LITI …AWESOME PERFORMANCE AND SPORTSMANSHIP

And the awesome performance of young David Liti of New Zealand, winning gold in the +105kg category with a total of 403kg. In addition he was the winner of the David Dixon award as the best athlete of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. What a huge honour and recognition, well deserved. It was a fiercely fought battle between David and Lauititi Lui from Samoa. Unfortunately Lauititi injured his knee badly in his third clean and jerk. David at the medal ceremony was a true sportsman. He helped Lauititi to get on to the stage by pushing the wheelchair so that he could receive his silver medal. Special congratulations to Tina Ball in looking after this young man for many years and taking him to the top – great coaching Tina !

Eileen Cikamatana becomes the first female athlete to win a Gold medal for Fiji. She won the 90Kg category.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF History repeated itself for the CWF, General Secretary, Paul Coffa, 34 years after the 1984 Olympic Games, where he was the coach of the Australian team. At the Los Angeles Olympic Games, a young Australian by the name of Dean Lukin, became a super hero when on his second attempt in the clean & jerk, he did an unbelievable lift at the time of 240kg clean & jerk. He was trailing Mario Martinez from the USA by 15kg. Dean did 227.5kg in his first attempt to consolidate the silver medal , and then jumped to 240kg and stunned everyone when he succeeded with the lift.

Fast forward 34 years, Paul Coffa coaching Steven Kari from Papua New Guinea was faced with the same dilemma at the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games. Steven was trailing Boady Santavy from Canada by 16kg. Steven took 202kg in his first attempt in the clean & jerk to consolidate the silver medal position. Then he went all out in his second attempt jumping 14kg to a lift of 216kg. He stunned everyone when he succeeded with the lift. At the same time, he established a new Commonwealth senior record.

1984 Los Angeles Olympics Dean Lukin- Australia 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Steven Kari – Papua New Guinea won wins gold medal with Paul Coffa jumping for joy. the 94Kg Category with a lift of 216Kg Clean & jerk.

Mr Attila Adamfi IWF Director General addressing Members of the CWF Executive Board: From left Trent Dabwido-Nauru, Ben Nunoo the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation Mensah-Ghana, Robert Rose- Seychelles, Della Shaw Elder - Fiji, Paul Coffa-Australia, Congress at the Gold Coast. Dr Kevin du Plooy-South Africa, Tom Liaw-Singapore, Garry Marshall- New Zealand, Dr Michael Irani- England and Sir John Dawanincura – Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea celebrates its weightlifting heroes with police motorcade and jubilant crowds lining the streets.

Paul Coffa MBE- Photos courtesy by Bowen Stewart -Australian Weightlifting Federation OWF General Secretary also Trent Dabwido CWF Assistant General Secretary