Team Samoa is banking on the sport of weightlifting to rake in the gold medals and place them amongst the top countries at the 2015 Pacific Games.
The Samoan lifters have scooped nine gold medals after three days of competition.
President of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Patrick Felulea’I is not surprised with the performance of his lifters at the PNG Power Dome in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
“Our weightlifting team I think is our strongest team here and as you know in weightlifting you get three gold, two in the two disciplines and one in the total, so I think we pretty much on track on our expectations for our weightlifting team,” said Felulea’I.
Feluleai has been based at the Power Dome for the last three days and he’s expecting more on the final day of competition when experienced lifters such as Ele Opeloge take center stage.
“Hopefully at least we get another six to nine, we still got Mary and Ele and some of our other lifters have pretty good chances. The expectations might be on the high side but these are proven athletes.”
The SASNOC president is proud that all their lifters train at home in Apia and not at the Regional Weightlifting Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia.
“All our weightlifters are trained back home. They all locally trained and coach Terry Wallwork is doing an excellent job.”