The weightlifting team will arrive from the Commonwealth Games Birmingham UK on Thursday 11th August 2022, 1:30 pm at the Faleolo International Airport.
In an invitation for media coverage, the Press Secretariat’s office says there will an opportunity for interviews with the Management and Team of Samoa Weightlifting Federation who participated in the Commonwealth Games 2022.
Arriving on the flight this Thursday will be the President of SASNOC, Samoa Weightlifting Management and Team, as well as our 4 Medalists.
Pacific athletes have won a total of 12 medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, split among five nations.
Samoa won the region’s only gold, through weightlifter Don Opolenge and the nation’s lifters also won three silver medals. They also gained silver in boxing. It’s unclear when Samoa’s heavyweight boxer, Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali will come to Samoa.
Talamua reported that Tupuola shared his bittersweet moment after settling for a Silver medal for Samoa at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
The 23-year-old Samoan boxer was defeated by England’s Lewis Williams with 5-0 points, 24 hours after defeating Niue’s Duken Tutakitoa-Williams in the semifinals.
Tupuola told Talamua that he expected to win the final battle and the judges’ decision caught him by surprise.
“Bittersweet feeling as I thought I won the fight, but that’s boxing sometimes. The judges don’t always see from outside what we feel inside the ring,” he said.
“Honestly I thought my first fight was more difficult against India and I won that.”
He said this experience made him hungrier to prepare for his upcoming battles at the Olympics and his future in boxing.
“I fought my best for Samoa and I hope I have made our country proud.” In 2023, Tupuola will be preparing for the Olympics qualifying tournaments as well as the next Pacific games.
