NATIONAL weightlifting coach Joe Vueti is keeping a tab on five girls and six boys for Fiji's next international outing.
Vueti was in Levuka over the weekend to conduct their first trials for the Oceania Championships in Samoa in June.
He said he was impressed by the performance of the national trialists who are camping in Baba Village in Levuka.
"Our elite squad and our development squad is camping in Levuka because this is now the base of weightlifting in Fiji," Vueti said.
"There are six girls and eight boys in the elite squad and three of our lifters are in New Caledonia (Manueli Tulo, Maria Liku and Apolonia Vaivai)," he said.
"These local lifters are in contention for spots in the national team that will represent Fiji at the Oceania Championships in Samoa in June."
He said the second trials to be held in Suva on May 5 would confirm the lifters who make the cut.
"These lifters are currently lifting their personal best and can beat that but what I need from them is to lift an extra 10kg from their personal best in order to make the cut."
"They can do it, it is possible given they put in that effort and that is one of the reasons why I have moved the base to Levuka.
"Life in the village is more discliplined and there are no distractions here.
"It is very easy for me to control them and their development here in Baba and the atmosphere is right for our preparation."
Vueti said the names of the lifters to represent Fiji in the Oceania Championships would be revealed on May 5.
"I know them already, I know who I want to take but I will not reveal their names yet because I want them all to better their personal best by at least 10kgs," Vueti said.