Weightlifting Fiji is set to compete at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, with top athletes Taniela Rainibogi and Nehemiah Elder leading the team.
Rainibogi, who recently set a new Commonwealth Games record, won gold in the men’s 109kg category at the 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship. He will compete in the 110kg category at the upcoming Games in Palau.
Sixteen-year-old Elder will compete in the 88kg category. He is a rising star, known for being the first Fijian weightlifter to win gold at a World Championship event. Elder made history by winning three gold medals at the 2025 IWF World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru. Competing in the men’s 89kg youth division, he won the snatch with 152kg, the clean and jerk with 180kg, and a total of 332kg.
Weightlifting Fiji will send nine athletes to the Games. The team includes 2023 Sports Woman of the Year Miriama Taletawa (77kg), 14-year-old Mereia Turaganivalu (63kg), Chrystalle Kai (69kg), Poama Qaqa (71kg), Daniel Shaw (79kg), Nehemiah Elder (88kg), Zion Tokona (110kg), Taniela Rainibogi (110kg), and Setareki Matau (110+kg).
The Pacific Mini Games will take place from June 29 to July 9.
