The Samoa Weightlifting Association (SWA) has announced its weightlifting squad to represent Samoa at the Commonwealth senior and junior weightlifting championships in India.

The championship will be held from 11–17 July and seven athletes representing Team Samoa will be travelling to India for the championship. 

Representing Samoa in the women’s division is Lesila Fiapule in the 87-kilogram category and Iuniarra Sipaia in the 87+kg category. The men’s division has Nevo Ioane (67 kg), John Tafi (73 kg), Maeu Nanai Livi (96 kg), Don Opeloge (102 kg) and Sanele Mao (109 kg).

They are all currently in training with an eye on the upcoming Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in November this year and the Olympic Games next year in Paris.

This Commonwealth championship will be an invaluable springboard for the athletes, giving them the necessary experience and exposure in their pursuit of gold in the 2024 Olympics. They are scheduled to participate in a number of international competitions this year, especially the Olympic qualifiers.

The SWA have displayed the results of their athletes on their social media page with many of them setting new personal bests in the last two months. Some of the association's most notable achievements were set by Nevo Ioane, who broke and set a new Oceania record in the clean and jerk in the men’s 67 kg category during the Samoa Games, and Samoa’s golden boy, Don Opeloge who set a new Commonwealth record in the clean and jerk and total in the men’s 102kg category also during the Samoa games week.

Both these athletes are a part of the team flying to India and have the potential to secure and bring home the gold.

In a previous interview with their head coach and President of SWA, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, he said that all these preparations will help prepare their lifters for the Pacific Game later this year and the Olympic qualifiers.