Solomon Islands’ Golden Girl Jenly Tegu Wini claimed the first gold medals at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara on Monday, claiming three gold medals in the weightlifting competition.
She claimed the three gold in the women’s 55 kilograms category.
Wini, her country’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony on Sunday, lifted 82kg in the snatch and 108kg in the clean and jerk.
Her total winning lift was 190kg.
“I am happy and it’s a big crowd, home crowd. I just went for what I have trained hard for,” she told the media outside the Marantha Hall, the venue for the weightlifting competition.
“I am happy the Prime Minister (Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare) gave me the medals.
“Thank you very much to all the supporters who have supported me.”
She said being the flagbearer in front of thousands of locals was an exciting moment.
Wini said she has not stopped preparation since July and has another competition in Doha in December to attend, with her sight set on competing for another three years.
She wants to continue with coaching younger lifters from her home country.
“All the athletes in the lighter weights will compete today,” she said, adding she expects more medals from them.
One of them also won three silver medals in the same 55kg category.
Lorah Maelosia won three Silver medals, lifting a total of 170kg.
She finished with 76kg in the snatch and 83kg in the clean and jerk.
The duo’s medal hauls meant the Solomon Islands led the medal tally by the half-day mark on Monday.
Nauru’s My-Only Stephen won the bronze medals in the category.
Weightlifting competition continues throughout this week.
SOURCE: INSIDE THE GAMES/PACNEWS
