Lifters throw weight behind Fiji champs

Rarotonga junior weightlifters Sirla Pera and Luisa Peters are preparing to represent the country at the Oceania Junior and Senior Weightlifting Championships in Fiji.

The pair will travel to Fiji on April 27 for the four day championships from May 4 to 7.

Peters, the only Cook Islands female weightlifter, will be lifting in the 75kg plus category while Pera will lift in the 94kg category

Both athletes will lift in the junior section, where they are expected to lift well, and also in the senior division for experience.

Peters is also preparing for the Singapore Youth Olympics in August while Pera will continue his training for a possible spot at the Commonwealth Games in October.

The weightlifting team’s trip to Fiji has been made possible through a number of fundraising events including the sausage sizzle sales at the World Health Day earlier this month.

On the day, both Peters and Pera held weightlifting demonstrations in front of the BCI bank where the big crowd watching were awestruck by their strength.

The weightlifting team of Peters, Pera, coach Sam Pera Snr and manager Unakea Kauvai would like to thank everyone, including all the small local businesses that helped out with their fundraisers.

The team would also like to thank sponsors DHL Couriers, Avarua Bakery, BCI Bank, Nga Jessie of AACI and the ministry of health for their health day initiative which gave the two local weightlifters and the sport itself a lot of exposure.

Also accompanying the team to Fiji will be CISNOC secretary general Rosie Blake who will cheer on her granddaughter Peters and talk up the Cook Islands as an ideal venue for hosting weightlifting events.