Weightlifting Fiji is gearing up for a significant year ahead as the national squad prepares to compete at the World Cup scheduled for April in Samoa. This event holds particular importance, as it will coincide with the Commonwealth Championships and Oceania Championships, making it a crucial final qualifying opportunity for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Head coach Henry Elder emphasizes the importance of this stacked schedule, viewing it as both a challenge and an opportunity for Fiji’s lifters. “For next year, we’ve got a big year planned,” he said. “The first major competition for us is in April; that’s the World Cup in Samoa. At the same time, they will be running the Commonwealth Championships and the Oceania Championships concurrently. That’s a big event for us, and it’s the final qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Elder expresses optimism about Fiji’s chances, aiming to secure multiple slots for the Glasgow Games with qualification standards stringent across the Commonwealth. “Hopefully, we’ll get probably about six athletes to qualify for those Games. For weightlifting, we have to qualify in the top eight to qualify outright, top eight in the Commonwealth.”
With the preparations already in motion, the coach remains confident that his athletes can rise to the occasion, aspiring to achieve both individual and national success on this international stage. It’s a moment of anticipation that not only looks towards qualification but also showcases the potential of Fiji’s weightlifters on a global platform.