Tongan weightlifters competed in the Tonga National Weight Lifting Championship and in the Tonga round of the Pacific Islands Cup Tournament at the Tonga Amateur Sports Association compound on Friday, February 27.

Maamaloa Lolohea, an Olympic heavy weight lifter, who is the coach and development officer for Tonga heavy weight lifters, said that 13 lifters competed in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk with seven categories, ranging from the 69kg to the 105kg.

In the Women's 69kg division, the winner was Tulisa Kailea, the only woman competitor. She lifted a total of 85kgs.

In the Men's division, the 56kg category was won by Maikolo Taufa, who lifted a total of 115kg. Other winners were: Niume Finau, (69kg) lifted 165kg; Talo Tuifua (77kg) lifted 115kg; Samisoni Uhila (85kg) lifted 150kg; Sione Vasi (90kg) lifted 170kg. The 105kg heavy weight category was won by Tevita Finau with a total lift of 190kg.

Maamaloa said that heavy weight lifters from 27 countries were competing in the Pacific Islands Cup Tournament and sending in their results by email. He said that at the end of the two-days competition, February 27-28, the results would be e-mailed to the Oceania Weight Lifting Federation in New Caledonia for comparison and the announcement of the winners next week.

Maamaloa was very impressed with the competition, "considering that a majority of the competitors were new comers." He was very optimistic of a strong team of lifters to represent Tonga at the South Pacific Mini Games to be held in the Cook Islands in September.