PNG's Dika Toua Wins Gold at 2024 United Masters Weightlifting Championship
Papua New Guinea’s Olympic weightlifter, Dika Toua, has secured a gold medal at the 2024 United Masters Weightlifting Championship held in Suva, Fiji. Toua, competing in the women’s 40-44 age group in the 50kg division, lifted a total of 158kg, with 68kg in the Snatch and 90kg in the Clean and Jerk.
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| PNG's Dika Toua Wins Gold at 2024 United Masters Weightlifting Championship [Photo Supplied] |
The 40-year-old lifter, who battled an elbow injury, expressed satisfaction with her performance. “I competed last night in the 50kg 40-44 age group and won gold,” Toua said, adding that she performed better than her recent competition at the Commonwealth Championships despite the injury.
Toua was among four of six Papua New Guinea masters lifters who initially registered for the event. Former PNG lifter Udu Heni also made an impact, winning a silver medal in the 73kg 50-54 age group, narrowly losing to his Australian opponent.
Current PNG lifters Thelma Toua and Morea Baru are expected to compete in their respective age categories during the final sessions tomorrow.
Toua, who also serves as president of the PNG Weightlifting Federation, explained that the event was self-funded due to the federation's focus on developing its elite and senior squads for the 2025 Mini Pacific Games in Palau. “We hope to look into supporting our older lifters in the future as this presents an opportunity for them to compete at the world stage,” she said.
The 2024 United Masters Weightlifting Championship has already seen nine world masters records broken, with more expected in the closing days of the competition.
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