WHILE Powerlifting Fiji president Eliesa Irava was impressed with the performance of lifters during the national trials yesterday, he says young lifters needed to polish their techniques to help improve their performance.
Twelve lifters graced the Air Freight Logistics-sponsored Fiji National trials at the National Fitness Centre as they try to qualify for the Oceania Championship in December.
Youngster Isaiah Elder and Terrence Toukave hit the Oceania qualifying mark and veteran Sainimili Turner also impressed in her new 113 kilograms weight category.
Elder, the son for former Fiji Rugby Union trainer Henry, set an unofficial Oceania record in the sub-junior category.
The 16-year-old lifted 220kg in the squat category. He needs to compete at the Oceania event and repeat the same result to get his name into the official record books.
West-based Toukave lifted a total of 560kg in the junior grade while Turner lifted 417kg in the master's division.
"I am very impressed with the performance of the lifters today (yesterday)," Irava said.
"They are young, they showed they have the potential and I am happy that some of them are even lifting some weights which they have never lifted before.
"But I believe they need adjustments with their techniques which will really help them a lot," Irava said.
"We need to work on the development of these young lifters so if they improve on their techniques, I believe they will lift more weights. They also need to understand the rules more."
He added the team to the Oceania will be named next week.