Leyna-May Domonatani collects her gold medal. Photo: Fijian Weightlifting
Regional weightlifters showed that they are coming into form for the upcoming Pacific Games in Solomon Islands with success at the weekend's Commonwealth Championships in India.
Samoa, Fiji and the Solomon Islands lifters were on the podium in New Delhi.
Samoa finished with four gold medals while Fiji and the Solomons also claimed a gold each.
Samoa have strength in depth
Samoa won two more gold medals in the final day of the competition on Sunday, adding to their earlier wins.
Sanele Mao claimed the gold in the Men's 109kg+ division, with a total of 380kg while Iuniarra Sipaia claimed gold in the women's 87kg+.
Earlier gold winners for the Samoans were Vaipava Nevo Ioane in the men's 67kg division, with a total lift of 280kg, and Don Opeloge in the 102kg division.
Opeloge broke the Commonwealth records in snatch (172kg), clean and jerk (207kg) as well as the total weight lifted (379kg).
Samoan head coach Jerry Wallwork, who has been assisting lifters at the Samoa Weightlifting Academy in Apia, said the results were encouraging.
"Certainly positive for our lifters and those from the other Pacific countries," he said.
"It will be interesting going forward."
Domonatani dominates for Fiji
Fiji were also on the medal dias on the last day of competition, with two medals.
Leyna-May Domonatani won a gold medal in the junior 87kg event and a bronze in the senior women's competition.
Fiji claimed a senior gold through Taniela Rainibogi, who snatched 163kg and 200kg in the clean and jerk for a new total of 263kg in the men's 109kg class.
Nehemiah Elder claimed a silver and Miriama Taletawa won bronze.
Tegu gains another medal
The Solomons bagged three medals, with weightlifting star Jenly Wini Tegu claiming the gold medal in the women's 55kg with a total lift of 189kg.
She snatched at 83kg and lifted 106kg in the clean and jerk, finishing 8kg clear of Shrabani Das of India and 47kg better than Chloe Perkins of Australia.
Shirmara Wini scooped a bronze in the 59kg junior category adding to the silver won by Lorah Maelosia.
Shirmana Wini of Solomon Islands Photo: SINIS Media
The hosts India won 20 medals overall.
PNG lifting legend gets financial boost for Olympic bid
Papua New Guinea's most succesful female weightlifter Dika Toua is one of 10 international athletes who will receive financial help in their quest to qualify for next year's Olympic Games in Paris.
Toua is the only woman to have lifted at five Olympic Games and is hoping to become the first weightlifter of either gender to compete at six.
The other Oceania weightlifter to receive payments from the new International Weightlifting Federation Athlete Direct Support Programme is New Zealand's David Liti.
They will receive $US3,000 each to help their qualifying efforts.
Shaw's 'groundbreaking' election
Fijian Della Shaw has become the new President of the Jury in Group 1 of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation following elections on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Championships in India.
Shaw, a former Oceania and South Pacific champion, is the first woman from the region to hold the post.
The President of the Jury has the power to overturn any decision by the referees.
Fiji Weightlifting said Shaw's election was "groundbreaking" and an important milestone for Fiji and Pacific women.
