The 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships officially begin today at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, featuring 210 participants from 25 countries.
The competition, hosted in Fiji for the first time, is set to feature top athletes from nations including India, England, Malaysia, Singapore, Wales, Canada, and Sri Lanka.
Fiji’s 2023 Sportsman of the Year Taniela Rainabogi will lead Fiji’s charge.
The event was opened last night by Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports Meli Nacuva who acknowledged the government for the provision of FJ$1.3 million in funding to support the event noting the platform it presents to local weightlifters to compete against the best in the world at home.
Among those who attended the competition opening last night were the President of the International Weightlifting Federation, Mohamed Jalood, and representatives from Oceania Weightlifting.
The competition runs throughout the week and will be followed by the United Weightlifting Masters Championships next week as part of a broader Weightlifting Carnival in Suva.