By James Cowling, Games News Service
PORT MORESBY, July 8 – Veteran weightlifter Itte Detenamo (NRU) won his fourth consecutive Pacific Games overall gold medal in the men’s over 105kg weight class at Port Moresby’s PNG Power Dome on Wednesday.
+In a show of brute strength, the 28-year-old Detenamo lifted a total weight of 370kg to win gold, while his main rival and youngest competitor in the weight class, Lauititi Lui (SAM), took the silver by lifting 362kg.
In a distant third was David Liti (AUS) whose combined total lift was 321kg.
Of his four wins, Detenamo said competing against Lui in Port Moresby was one of his toughest.
“He’s young, he’s coming up, he’s very strong. I think it was a good competition, very good competition,” said Detenamo who holds the Oceana records in youth, junior and senior categories.
In the snatch, the title came down to the wire with Lui missing his last attempt at 165kg.
Lui had to settle with a third lift of 160kg which gave Detenamo the win at 167kg.
New Zealand’s Andrius Barakauskas was third with 145kg.
In the clean and jerk, Lui faltered again on his third lift giving Detenamo an easy victory.
So easy, in fact, that he declined his final opportunity to lift.
Detenamo won gold in clean and jerk, Lui took silver and Liti was third.
The men’s over 105kg+ was the last event on the weightlifting programme at Port Moresby 2015.
GNS jc/jf
Last Modified on 27/05/2016 07:11