Samoan siblings lift golds
Samoan siblings Ele and Niusila Opeloge ruled their respective categories in the 2010 Commonwealth Games weightlifting competition at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex in New Delhi on Sunday.
Ele expectedly topped the women's 75-kilogram category. The defending Oceania champion and Commonwealth record holder lifted a Games record 125kg in the snatch, and another new Games mark of 160kg in the clean-and-jerk for a total of 285kg.
"I think my family support helped, I think my family is very happy, especially my mother and father, my brothers and sisters, my country," Ele said.
"I am very proud and I want to thank everyone for supporting me. My country, my coach and my family."
Ele, who finished fourth in her category at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is aiming to win Samoa's first ever Olympic medal two years from now in London.
"I will go back now and I will train hard. I want some Olympic medals, but I don't want to say what yet, it's too early," she said.
Maryam Usman of Nigeria won the silver medal with a total lift of 255kg while Deborah Acason of Australia claimed the bronze medal with 245kg. Defending champion Geeta Rani of India finished fourth with a 235kg total.
Niusila made it a double victory for the Opeloge family and the entire Samoan nation when he ruled the men's 105kg category. Bothered by a shoulder injury, the 30-year-old needed three attempts to lift 147kg in the snatch. Niusila then lifted 191kg in the
clean-and-jerk for a winning total of 338kg.
"I thank God for my strength. I tried my best to get gold because my sister did. We will have big celebrations for our two gold medals. It was a real challenge, but I have won this gold for my family, my country, especially my wife and kids," Niusila said.
Niusila is happy to win the gold medal despite nursing an injury.
"I was very upset, I had a shoulder injury after the warm-up. When I dropped them I was confused, I thought on the first one 'I can do it' but I dropped it. I then focused and made the last one," he said.
Russian-born New Zealander Stanislav Chalaev settled for the silver medal with 334kg while Nigerian Curtis Onaghinor placed third with 332kg.
The twin victories posted by the Opeloges came a day after Faavae Faauliuli ruled the men's 94kg division to give Samoa their first gold medal of the Games.
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