Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation

Affiliated to the International Weightlifting Federation Address; C/- CTOS, BP 333 98845 Noumea Cedex - NEW CALEDONIA Tel: +687 948792 Mobile: +61 413 956 958 Email: owf@bigpond.com or pc.owf@lagoon.nc

President: Hon. Vinson Detenamo (NRU) Secretary General: Paul Coffa MBE (AUS) Assistant Secretary: Matthew Curtain (AUS) Vice Presidents: Steve Cannon (ENG) Garry Marshall (NZL) Hester Montgomery (RSA) Dato Ong Poh Eng (MAS) George Vasiliades (CYP) David Webster (SCO) Executive members: Atma Maharaj (FIJ), Robert Kabbas (AUS), Tom Liaw Yong (SIN) S.M.Boukar Tikire (CMR), Damianos Hadjidamianou CYP), Steve Olarinoye (NGR)

Latest News October, 2009 2009 Commonwealth Championships – Penang, Malaysia Eleven years ago 1998, Malaysia hosted the XVI Commonwealth Games. This was the last time Malaysia saw Commonwealth weightlifters competing on Malaysian soil. Eleven years later, thanks to Dato Ong Poh Eng, the Government of Penang, the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation and a remarkable and committed Organising Committee, Penang staged a magnificent event - the 2009 Commonwealth Senior and Junior Weightlifting Championships. The Organising Committee was very lucky that a few countries pulled out, otherwise it would have been impossible to run the competition over two and half days with so many participants taking part, making it the biggest Commonwealth Championships in its history. Over 100 officials also attended the championships. Penang did a splendid job. The sports arena (PISA) where the event was held was superb. The training facility was within the sports arena complex, making it very convenient for all participants. The venue also provided VIP rooms, rest rooms for the athletes, media centre, drug testing facilities, technical officials room and the CWF Office. The stage was also very well set up.

Dato Ong Poh Eng- Chairman Organising Committee The accommodation at the Vistana Hotel was five star and all meals were mouth watering and wonderfully presented. Internal transport was first class with luxury buses. The welcome group at the airport did an excellent job in receiving the delegations.

For the first time ever, a welcoming dinner for all athletes and officials

The Vistana Hotel in Penang was organised the night before the opening ceremony, with many guests attending including YAB TUAN LIM GUAN ENG Chief Minister of Penang and YB LYDIA ONG KOK FOOI EXCO Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development. Entertainment for the evening was very colourful with the Malaysian culture shining through, as was the Opening Ceremony the following day and let’s not forget the closing banquet, where everyone had a wonderful time. Dato Ong Poh Eng, the Chairman of the Organising committee and Vice President of the CWF must be congratulated. He did an outstanding job. His team of volunteers worked extremely hard and very efficiently. They were very instrumental in making the event run smoothly. Congratulations also to the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation in particular its President Dato’ Wira Gan Boon Leong and the General Secretary Mr Roslan Othman. Many thanks must also be extended to the Penang Weightlifting Association in particular its General secretary Mr Francis Lim. And finally, sincere thanks to YB Lydia Ong Kok Fooi for supporting the Championships and I am confident that in the near future Penang will be ready to host a much larger international weightlifting event. YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng,

Chief Minister of Penang.

Best male and female Lifters of the Championships: Yukio Peter (Nauru) Best male lifter Ngangbam Soniya Chanu (India) Best female lifter The best male senior lifter was Yukio Peter from Nauru in the 77kg category. The best male Junior lifter was Sukhen Dey from India in the 56kg category. The best female senior lifter was Ngangbam Soniya Chanu from India in the 48kg category. The best female Junior lifter was Bangaru Usha from India in the 48kg category. Team Trophies: India dominated the Championships by taking out all team awards. A well deserved victory for a team which had a contingent of almost 50 people. The Secretary General of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, SQN.LDR. Baldev Raj Gulati, was ecstatic with his teams outstanding performances. He did an outstanding job in organising such a large team to travel to Malaysia. Technical Officials: The technical officials did an outstanding job also when you consider that there was so many lifters competing over a two and half day period. On the first day the competition finished at 11pm. Thank you to Sam Coffa, the IWF/ CWF Technical Chairman and to all the technical officials who worked so diligently during the Championships. Special thanks to Matthew Curtain for his immense contribution, not only as the MC but also for his technological support to the championships. Jaqui Preketes presents a cheque YB Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, EXCO Youth and Sports, of AUD$5000 to the CWF General Women, Family and Community attends the CWF The Hon. Vinson Detenamo, President Secretary, Paul Coffa Annual Congress. Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation The CWF Congress: The CWF Congress was held on the 20th October at the Vistana Hotel in Penang, These are some of the decisions which were made during the Congress;

a) The acceptance of the new CWF Constitution. b) It was decided to establish CWF Life Members. The first ones inducted as life members are Mr. Myrddin John (Wales)

and Mr. & Mrs. Montgomery (South Africa) for their outstanding contribution to the sport of weightlifting in the Commonwealth. The awards will be presented in Dehli next year during the CWF Electoral Congress.

c) The City of Cape Town, South Africa, was given the rights to host the 2011 Commonwealth Senior and Junior

Championships. This decision was made by the Executive Board and was unanimously endorsed by the Congress. The South African delegation was delighted with this news and South Africa is now looking forward to welcoming the Commonwealth Championships to Cape Town for the very first time. The CWF General Secretary was pleased to see that the championships were now being staged in different Continents. 2007 was Samoa (Oceania), 2008 was Cyprus (Europe), 2009 was Malaysia (Asia), 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, 2011 will be South Africa.

d) Commonwealth Youth Championships will also be introduced and the first event will be in conjunction with Commonwealth Senior & Junior Championships in Cape Town in 2011. Date to be advised.

e) Under sponsorship - the CWF General Secretary, announced that ZKC will provide five sets of weights at every combined Commonwealth Senior, Junior & Youth Championships. Mr. Coffa also informed the Congress that ZKC will also cover the cost of establishing and running a new website and this well be ready by the end of the year. f) Also under sponsorship - Ms. Jaqui Preketes, Managing Director of Touchdown Tours, a travel company from Melbourne, Australia, attended the Championships and was invited to attend the Congress where she presented a AUD $5,000 cheque to the CWF as sponsorship.

Dr Ajan to continue as Honorary IOC Member.

Having reached the age of 70 years in 2009. Dr.Tamas Ajan term as member f the International Olympic committee will come to end at the end of this year.in accordance with the IOC Charter. However, at the 121st Session of the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, in recognition of his invaluable and exceptional services to the Olympic Movement and to the IOC, he was unanimously voted to continue as of 1st January 2010 as Honorary IOC Member Congratulations Dr Ajan.

New Positions Malta - The Maltese Weightlifting Association has a new President, Mr. Jesmond Caruana. Jesmond previously held the post of Secretary General of the Maltese Weightlifting Federation and at their recent elections he was elected President. Congratulations Jesmond, and we look forward to see you at the Commonwealth Games next year in Dehli. Congratulation also to the new General Secretary Mr. Jesmond Vassallo. Britain – The BWLA Annual General Meeting elected Louis Martin MBE as President of BWLA. Louis was an outstanding weightlifting competitor from the late 1950's to the early 1970's. During this time, Louis won four World Championship titles 1959, 1961, 1963 and 1965. Louis also won silver at the 1964 Olympic Games and bronze at the 1968 Olympic Games, as well a competing in three Commonwealth Games (1962 - 1970). Congratulation Louis and we look forward to see you also at next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Mr Jesmond Caruana Mr Louis Martin MBE Dates to remember: November 17-29 2009 World Senior Championships Goyang City –Korea Paul Coffa MBE SECRETARY GENERAL

PHOTOS FROM PENANG

YB Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, with Paul Coffa, Sam Coffa VIP guests at the Opening Ceremony and Matthew Curtain YB Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, declares the Championships The Opening Ceremony of the Championships open in the traditional Malaysian setting. The Opening Ceremony showcases a glittering display of Malaysian cultural dance.

Luxury buses used to transport athletes from airport to hotel and also to the competition venue.

Fantastic welcome dinner with entertainment, involving the athletes and officials from overseas. The Organising Committee (all volunteers) consisted of multi-talented individuals The young lifters of the Penang Weightlifting who worked diligently throughout the championships. . Association did a great job as loaders.

YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang, sitting Matthew Curtain did a great job as the MC and also with YB Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, EXCO Youth and Sports with provided full results as the competition progressed. Paul Coffa CWF Gen Secretary at the Welcoming Dinner.

The warm up area at the stadium. Valluri Srinivasa Rao wins Gold for India Seychelles star Clementina Agricole takes gold in in the 56kg category with 243Kg Total. the 53Kg Category with 177kg total. Barbados athlete of the year Ivorn Babalwa Ndleleni from South Africa cleaning Mohd Shafiq Hussin (Malaysia) wins Gold McKnee wins again the 105Kg Class. 112Kg on the way to win the 69Kg category. in the junior 105Kg category. South Africa takes another gold with Nauru super heavyweight champion Itte Detenamo Niue Junior champion Narita Viliamu wins Jean Greeff winning the 94Kg wins the 105+category with 381kg Total. the Junior 75+Kg category with a total of 215Kg Junior champion weightlifter Rita Kari from Female best senior lifter at these championships David Katoatau from Kiribati wins the Papua New Guinea wins the junior and Senior Ngangbam Sonyna Chanu from India takes the Commonwealth championships in the 85kg championships in the 58Kg Class with 175Kg. 48Kg category wth a total of 167Kg. category with a total of 315kg.