BY JOY OFASIA
DESPITE her failure to win a medal at this year’s XVII Pacific Games 2023, Solomon Islands female weightlifter Mary Kini Lifu said she is proud of her performance as she received invaluable experience and exposure from the Games.
Lifu ended her medal campaign at the Games on Tuesday, finishing in 6th place in the women’s weightlifting 59kg division of the Pacific Games at the Multipurpose Hall, Honiara.
She achieved sixth place in the women’s weightlifting 59kg division, placing seventh in the Snatch finals and sixth in the Clean & Jerk finals.
Lifu told Raw Sports that although she was unable to bring home any medals at these games, she was nevertheless happy with her overall placing of sixth. She also mentioned that the competition was tough and good.
Solomon Islands female weightlifter Mary Kini Lifu finishing in 6th place in the women’s weightlifting 59kg division of the Pacific Games at the Multipurpose Hall, Honiara. Photo by Joy Ofasia
She claimed that since the weightlifting competition at the Pacific Games offered her the chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she gave it her all.
“I must admit that I am quite proud of myself because, at the end of the day, I have earned a spot in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.”
The 29-year-old later expressed her gratitude to her weightlifting coaches, the Solomon Islands National Institution of Sports (SINIS), and her Chinese coaches for their dedication and time-consuming preparations.
She says, “I would like to thank my family and all of my supporters for their support and for their time, effort, and preparation leading up to this game.”
Mary’s older sister, Jacinta Lifu, a former weightlifter from the Solomon Islands, expressed her pride in her sister’s performance and expressed her desire to compete in more events in the future.
