Rainibogi wins 3 gold medals for Team Fiji in weightlifting

Team Fiji flag bearer, Taniela Rainibogi is leading from the front after winning 3 gold medals for Fiji in the Men’s 109kg Weightlifting at the Pacific Games this morning.

Rainibogi won his first gold with a lift of 157kg in the snatch event.

He also won gold in the clean and jerk event with a lift of 192kg and secured a third gold with his total lift of 357kg.

Rainibogi says he is really emotional and this win has been a long time coming.

He says they need a lot more support in weightlifting especially with their younger lifters.

The gold medal winner says he does not have time to celebrate his win as it is back to training to try and qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The Men’s Volleyball team is currently playing the Solomon Islands for the 5th and 6th position while the Women’s team will face Tahiti in their semi final at 6 tonight.

In Basketball, the Women’s team play Samoa in their semi final at 1pm while the Men will face New Caledonia at 7 tonight for their semi final.

In Swimming, the heats are currently on for the 100 metres Women’s Backstroke, 400 metres Women’s Individual Medley, 400 metres Men’s Individual Medley, 200 metres Women’s Freestyle, 200 metres Men’s Freestyle, 4 x 100 metres Women’s Medley Relay, 4 x 100 metres Men’s Medley Relay with the finals starting at 7.30 tonight.

The Fijiana 7s face the Solomon Islands at 1.12pm, before playing the Cook Islands at 6.12 tonight while the Fiji Men’s 7s play Kiribati at 3.12pm.

In Sailing, the Women’s one Person Dinghy Teams and Individuals is currently underway with the Men’s Sailboard Individual Lightweight and Heavyweight.

In Golf, the Individual Male Round 3 is currently underway while the Individual Female Round 3 will tee off at 1.30pm.

In Karate, the Adi Drodrolagi Kidia will take part in the Open Female Kumite at 5pm while Sandip Pala and Manasa Naqelevuki in the Open Men’s Kumite at 5.40pm.

Fiji currently has 6 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals.

New Caledonia currently leads the standings with 32 gold, 23 silver and 25 bronze with Australia in second with 23 gold, 13 silver and 6 bronze.