BY JOHN CHRISMA
THE two female weightlifters who will represent the Solomon Islands at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have recently been selected and announced in Honiara.
Pacific Games and Commonwealth Games medallists Mary Kini Lifu and JenlyTegu Wini were first to be confirmed as the other local athletes are yet to secure their place with team Solomon Islands for the Tokyo Games.
The 2020 Olympics Games in Japan was rescheduled to start on 23 July this year.
Selecting the female weightlifters this early means they can focus on nailing their preparations for what will be a challenging competition in two months.
The Duos are now in full progress and concentration with their respective training sessions as preparation for the Games takes momentum in Honiara.
Weightlifting Coach and Technical Director Saeg Apollos told Raw Sports that the two lifters are currently resuming their respective training as they prepare ahead for the Games.
“The two female weightlifters are now using up every available time left to concentrate and work hard on their training as the clock ticks closer to the Games.
“Both weightlifters are not new in representing the Solomon Islands in other national, regional, and international organized sporting events.
“I strongly believe that they might have the opportunity to win medals for the country,” the Technical Director, Saeg Apollos said.
On a similar note, Jenly Wini confirmed that with early preparations and ongoing training sessions, they are ready to represent the country for the upcoming 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“We are working in preparation to raise our national flag and get something back for the country in Tokyo Olympic Games,” Wini said.
Jenly Tegu Wini has previously competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in the women’s 58 kg category. In the event, she finished in 17th.
Wini later won the 2013 Oceania Championships in her weight category, to become the first female weightlifter from the Solomon Islands to do so.
She also competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, finishing 8th in the women’s 58 kg. Whilst later she competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in the women’s 58 kg and she finished in 15th place.
In 2018 she became the first Solomon Islands athlete to win a Commonwealth Games medal, finishing third in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event on the Gold Coast.
