The nbs Samoa Weightlifting Team have wrapped up the Commonwealth Championships in India with 3 Gold and 2 Silver Medals, setting 4 new Commonwealth records and 6 Oceania records.
Speaking to Samoa Global News Head Coach and IWF Executive Board Member Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork said the event was also a Commonwealth Games qualifier and all countries brought their best to the competition.
The Gold Medals were achieved by Big Boy Sanele Mao for the men’s 110kg category, Iuniarra Sipaia for the women’s 86+kg category and Seine Stowers for the women’s 77kg category.
Sanele Mao set two new Commonwealth records and 2 Oceania records with his massive 181kg snatch and 220kg clean & jerk.
“Sanele was the highlight of the whole Championships,” said Head Coach and President Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork.
“It was a tough competition with David Liti, the Commonwealth Games Gold medalist and 8th place at the Olympic Games, and of course the hosts, the Indian lifter was very good.”
Golden girl Seine Stowers set two Commonwealth Youth records and four Oceania Records – two for Oceania Youth and two Oceania senior records.
The 17 year old put in a massive snatch of 102kg and clean & jerk of 131kg.
Tuaopepe says Seine Stowers had also attempted a 107kg snatch to challenge the World Youth record but had just missed out.
“I think it would be the first time in history that any athlete from Samoa has attempted to break a world record,” said Tuaopepe adding that there is another opportunity in Melbourne at the Australian Open next month to attempt it again.
Veteran Iuniarra Sipaia at 32 years old had pulled out a personal best performance in her 12-yeear lifting career, said Tuaopepe.
Her snatch of 111kg and clean & jerk of 150kg earned a gold medal and set two new Oceania records.
Samoa’s two silver medals were achieved by Jack Opeloge and 18 year old Emmanuel Ulimasao for the men’s 94kg category.
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Officially Qualified for Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
The Commonwealth Championships had also been an important qualifier for the Commonwealth Games 2026 and Samoa’s Golden Trio have now all qualified for Glasgow.
The SASNOC President said it was very tough competition with every country fielding their best athletes aiming to qualify for Glasgow: 23 July to 2 August 2026.
Tuaopepe says Samoa has 8 potential Commonwealth Games medalists amongst the nbs Samoa Weightlifting national squad, however, with limited funding leading up to the event only 6 athletes could attend the qualifiers.
“Iuniarra Sipaia, Lesila Fiapule, John Tafi, Jack Opeloge, Avatu Opeloge, Sanele Mao, Emmanuel Ulimasao and Seine Stowers are all medal contenders for next years’ Commonwealth Games.”
“I would have liked to have taken 12 for exposure to the Commonwealth Championships,” said Tuaopepe, “but funding constraints only allowed us to take a team of six.”
Tuaopepe acknowledged and thanked their naming sponsors National Bank of Samoa as well as Samoa’s IBFC – International Business Finance Centre – for supporting the teams participation to India.
Next Up
Next up for the high-performing nbs Samoa Weightlifting Team is the Australia International Open in October, followed by the Elite International Training Camp, hosted here in Samoa at the end of October.
World Cup
The ultimate upcoming event however, is Samoa’s hosting of the IWF Weightlifting Cup in April-May 2026.
“The World Cup is expected to draw over 500 elite athletes, not counting coaching staff and supporters from 70 countries around the globe,” Paul Coffa had confirmed in August 2025.
“This will put Samoa on the world stage as a premier destination for hosting international sporting events.”
Tuaopepe says Samoa Weightlifting are looking forward to working with the Samoa Government towards preparations for the World Cup and are keen to see the Government finalised soon.
“The World Cup is gaining momentum and more countries are confirming their participation.
“There would be a lot of preparations for an event of this magnitude.”
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Tuiloma Lemalu Sina Retzlaff is a Certified Accountant and Accredited Mediator by profession. Author of the short story Unborn Child, she is also a Gender Based Violence Research Fellow.
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