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Frank Robby, Vice President of OWF passed away

Frank Robby, Vice President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation passed away on 11th June due to illness for the past 12 months. Mr. Robby was the heart of Papua New Guinea Weightlifting for many decades.  He was a strong pillar in the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and his passion for weightlifting was unmatched. In his younger years, he was an excellent weightlifter and later rose to the position of Vice President of OWF, which he held with a great pride until his death.  He was also involved with powerlifting and strength coaching for rugby. He was also a Category 1 Technical Official and represented Papua New Guinea more times at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, Oceania Championships and other international events in the region. The IWF offers its deep condolences to his family, the PNG Weightlifting Federation, the PNG Olympic Committee, and the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.  

Hidilyn Diaz’s tourney to search for new Philippean lifters

More than 130 lifters from all over the country are expected to take part in the 2018 Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Open Championships to be held from 27-29 July at the Meralco Fitness Center in Ortigas, Pasig.   The tournament, which is held with the support of the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation and the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, aims at helping Olympian Hidilyn Diaz leave a legacy behind when she finally retires after the 2020 Olympics. And that’s to find talents and young lifters who have Olympic dreams and can excel in international competitions. It will serve as a tryout for aspiring members of the national team and for those who can join the seven lifters who have been selected to see action in the coming Asian Games in Indonesia.   Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said they have recommendations for Diaz and her teammates to be included for the national delegation to the coming Asiad and those who will excel in the HDWOC.     Read the full article

IWF Prepares to defend Olympic Qualification at CAS

In April of this year, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced a radically new Qualification System for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with the principal aim of protecting clean sport. The Weightlifting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport to challenge the Qualification System. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifying system for weightlifting was approved by the International Olympic Committee, which reduced the overall number of places available at Tokyo 2020 for weightlifters. Under the new system, athletes will have to compete in at least six eligible competitions between 1 November 2018 and 30 April 2020, ensuring there are regularly subjected to the heightened level of doping controls at IWF-sanctioned competitions. “The IWF is completely committed to protecting clean athletes to and to ensuring that demonstrably clean athletes lift at the Olympic Games, which remains the pinnacle of our sport,” said IWF President Tamas Ajan. “In recent years, we have worked hard to reduce the historical incidence of doping in weightlifting by radically changing our approach. Change can often be difficult, but for the good of our sport, the IWF is determined to continue working towards a brighter

XI South American Games has succsessfully concluded

The XI South American Games held between 28 and 31 of may has successfully concluded in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The first South American Games were held in 1978 in La Plaza, Bolivia.  They have since been held every four years. The Games has an equivalent to the Olympic Flame: the South American Flame, which is relayed from Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, to the host city. This year’s event was held at the Suarez Coliseum, organized by the ODESUR (South American Sports Organisation). The ODESUR has 14 member countries, of which 12 competed in the games, and 9 countries managed to achieve new South American and Pan American records. Jorge Espana, Technical Delegate did an impressive job preparing the competition and the delivery was very successful, his work benefited both the participants and the public. IWF Vice President and President of the South American Weightlifting Federation Jose Quinones also participated at the

Dika Loa Toua won the best femele athlete award at the PNGOC SP Sport Awards

Dika Loa Toua, three-time Commonwealth Games medallist won the best female athlete of the year prize at the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) SP Sports Awards. She was the first woman ever to lift weight at the Olympic Games, competing in the 48kg bodyweight category at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She ended up sixth in the women's 53kg in Athens 2004, lifting a total of 177.5kg where she was her country's flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony. In 2014, she claimed the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 53kg bodyweight category and ranked second in the same bodyweight category at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April. Toua beat triathlete Rachael Sapery James and tennis player Abigail Tere-Apisah to land the best female athlete award. "I am very grateful and thankful to the good Lord for his continuous blessings of strength he has given me to represent Papua New Guinean" she said. "Thank you also to the PNG Weightlifting Federation, the PNGOC and corporate sponsors for all your support." The male award went to Ase Boas rugby player. Sources: insidethegames.com,

IWF Working Group meets to propose new Bodyweight Categories

The IWF Bodyweight Categories Working Group met in Budapest on 31 May – 01 June to begin the final phase of determining the new 10 women’s and 10 men’s bodyweight categories, which will provide greater athletic opportunities, improve inclusivity and enhance competition. The Working Group reviewed the wide-range of proposals which have been submitted by the IWF’s stakeholders as well as conduct their own comprehensive research. In line with the internal decision making process, the proposal will be submitted to the IWF Committees and Executive Board at the next meeting in July 2018. The Working Group is composed of members of the IWF Sport Programme Commission and two representatives from each of the three elected IWF Committees appointed by their respective Chair. The decision to increase the bodyweight portfolio from eight men and women’s categories to 10 was taken by the IWF Executive Board in November 2017. The Working Group finalized its proposal on the 10 categories in each gender drawing on a number of different factors using scientific and statistical evidence. The seven men’s and seven women’s medal events for Tokyo 2020 will be drawn from the 10 men’s and 10 women’s bodyweight categories once they have been agreed. The meeting was opened by IWF President Tamas Ajan in the presence of the IWF General Secretary Mohammed Jaloud and the President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, Dr. Krisztián Kulcsár. During the meeting there was also discussion on the method to be applied to establish new World and Olympic records, new minimum entry totals for IWF World Championships and the structure and conditions for a refreshed global calendar of events. IWF President Ajan said: “The IWF is committed to evolving weightlifting to ensure that it remains as relevant and appealing to a global audience as possible. Over the course of our history we have made several changes to the bodyweight categories in order to adapt to the latest scientific understanding of the human body and the progress of the sport. We think now is the right time for us to again review the bodyweight categories. This Working Group has a critical role to play in coming up with a tailored, well-structured proposal based on scientific study and discussion.” IWF Director General and member of the Working Group, Attila Adamfi added: “It is important that we continually look at ways we can improve our sport for our athletes and for our fans. By increasing the number of bodyweight categories from eight to ten, the IWF will provide more medal opportunities and create an even field size which in turn will make for more balanced competitions. It will also enhance our flexibility and adaptability and allow us to promote sport innovation, gender equality and sustainability. The Working Group delivered a comprehensive proposal for the IWF that could provide a benchmark for many years to come.”