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More weightlifting qualifiers eyed
The CNMI’s Antonette Labausa competes in the weightlifting event in last month’s 9th Micronesian Games in Yap. n (Hiroyuki Mori)
CNMI Weightlifting Federation president John Davis aspires for more weightlifting qualification events to promote the sport and gain active participation from the community.
One of these events will be held at the Latte Built 24-hour Fitness and Nutrition Center mid-October this year, as Davis hopes to endorse the sport to the public and look for potential talents. He will then help develop their raw skills and prepare them for the XVI Pacific Games that will be held in Apia, Samoa from July 7 to 20 next year.
The planned qualifiers are similar to the Olympic-style event that took place early this year where Bonny Cruz, Antonette Labausa, Angel San Nicolas, Joey Tudela, and Rodrigo Ada made the grade and were selected to represent the CNMI in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap.
Davis lauded the squad for delivering for the Commonwealth in the Micro Games.
“They’ve been a very good inspiration,” said Davis, adding that he hopes to see upcoming athletes taking part in the future success of the weightlifting federation.
The five members of the CNMI weightlifting squad combined for a 6-7-2 (gold-silver-bronze) medal haul and later won NMSA Team of the Month (for July) honors. Ada and Labausa were also adjudged Male and Female Athletes of the Month.
With their recent success, Davis hopes that the CNMI national weightlifting team will get more support from the government.
“The athletes got medals, but they have not gotten minimum support from the government even though garnering 40 percent of the (CNMI) success in the Micro Games,” said Davis.
Meanwhile, Davis said that having more qualifying events will give athletes a chance to compete in the big stage. He said that there should be least one person representing the Commonwealth per weight category to showcase their competitiveness in regional and international events.
“We want to go beyond that and go to bigger stages,” said Davis. “Everybody wants to be a huge fish in a small pond, while this team wants to be a big fish in the big ocean.”
