Vaipava Nevo Ioane clinched the first gold for team Samoa at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2023 in India.

He was at his best winning the men's 67kg with a total lift of 280kg on Thursday evening. The silver went to India while bronze to Nauru.

Samoa's weightlifting coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork contacted the Samoa Observer and confirmed Samoa's first gold and thanked the country for their support.

The 35-year-old Ioane who announced his retirement last year made a comeback to the sport and with a statement.

Last year in April during the Commonwealth Games 2022, Vaipava's 174kg failed jerk crashed to the floor, he missed out on the gold but took home a silver medal for Samoa.

He later announced his retirement. While still on the stage, he took off his shoes and placed them neatly together on the lifting platform.

At that moment, his humble white lifting shoes were a totem for a youth spent pushing his body to extremes, of countless injuries, discipline, glory, friends, family, pride and his great respect for the sport.

His reason for retiring was for his family and his newborn child. Now he is back on the podium to lift again for Samoa.

COMPETITION TIMETABLE TEAM SAMOA: Saturday 15/07 Maeu Livi men 96kg Start:  8pm Sunday 16/06 Don Opeloge men 102kg Start:  2am Iuniarra Sipaia Lesila Fiapule women 87+kg Start:  6.30pm Sanele Mao men 109kg Start: 10.30pm.