South Pacific islands will be proudly represented at this month’s Commonwealth Games in the city of Birmingham.
Yes, we have the usual rugby stars from Fiji who are still targeting their first Commonwealth Games gold medal in Rugby Sevens. This is one prize that has eluded the rugby 7s kings, as New Zealand has bested them at previous Games. Fiji’s women’s 7s team will also be a side to watch due to their performance in the recent World Sevens Series tournaments.
Sprint queen Toea Wisil will lead Papua New Guinea into competition. PNG will likely be our region’s top track hopes after their dominant performances at the recent Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas. Wisil was instrumental in PNG’s dominance, bagging five gold medals.
It will also be Wisil’s swansong Commonwealth Games as she eyes retirement. “This one will be my last Commonwealth Games and I’m going to work with my coaches to cut my time down. This is going to be my last one. It’s going to be special,” Wisil told TVWan News.
Kiribati weightlifter Ruben Katoatau is also one to watch. Ruben is the brother of David Katoatau, the evergreen weightlifter known for dancing on centre stage and speaking to climate change issues after winning gold back in Glasgow 2014. When asked about whether Ruben would continue his brother’s flamboyant promotion of climate issues, the team’s Chef de Mission Nemani Tebana said that “he’s got the moves as well”. Just maybe we will get to see the Katoatau dance once again.
Whilst we are still relishing in the sport of weightlifting, it is also worth mentioning Eileen Cikamatana. The former Fiji representative won gold back in Gold Coast 2018 but now proudly competes under the Australian flag. Still under the trusted tutelage of Coach Paul Coffa, she will be one of the superstars to watch out for as she attempts to defend her gold medal in the 69kg division in Birmingham.
Over 5000 athletes will compete in this year’s Games. A modest 350 athletes will carry the Pacific hopes in their respective events. They include Niue’s Premier, Dalton Tagelagi, who will compete in lawn bowls. He was on the green for both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games in the singles and pairs before he became premier.
Stowers
A medal that matters
Pacific islands athletes, like those from other developing parts of the Commonwealth, compete not for fame or glory, but for the survival and well-being of their families. Pacific athletes put in the gruelling hours of training and risk of injury to put food on the table.
Given that context, the plight of PNG weightlifter, Dika Toua, is a particular shame.
Toua has won two silver medals (2006, 2018) and one Gold (2014) by default, after Nigeria’s Chika Amalaha committed a doping rule violation while competing in Glasgow. That promptly promoted Dika Toua from second to first place.
However recognition of this achievement has not been prompt. The champion weightlifter has been unable to celebrate her 2014 win due to administrative issues.
Toua, who is also competing in Birmingham, said: “This time I aim to go all the way. Since the doping disqualification in 2014, I’m still waiting for my gold medal. They came back and said there were some administrative errors, so I’m not sure where that’s taking me, but I hope the PNG Olympic committee takes it up because it’s an incentive loss for me.
“If I had gotten my gold medal, I would have gotten my other fifty grand on top of what I got, and this is much needed assistance to my family. This is like a job to me, I train, and I get my allowance and feed my family.”
Hopefully the Commonwealth Games organisers and PNG officials will take the necessary steps to ensure Toua is finally given her gold medal, so she can realise the income and respect she is owed.
