Former Fiji champion to join Australian team

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Eileen Cikamatana performs the traditional 'cobo' as a mark of respect after receiving her gold medal. Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU
Eileen Cikamatana performs the traditional ‘cobo’ as a mark of respect after receiving her gold medal. Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU/FILE

COMMONWEALTH Games 2018 gold medallist Eileen Cikamatana has been given a permanent residency status in Australia.

This means that instead of being a medal prospect for Fiji in defending the women’s 90 kilogram title in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, the Taviya, Ovalau lass could be competing in Australian colours.

She said she received the good news this week. “Greetings from New Caledonia,” she said in an email to this newspaper.

“Just a few days ago, I received my Australian permanent residency and in due course, once I get an Australian passport, I will be able to compete again internationally.”

On September 18, Cikamatana who was suspended with members of the Levuka Weightlifting Club for internal differences with Weightlifting Fiji executives, will turn 20. She will be 22 in Birmingham.

Her inclusion would add to Australia’s medal prospect in the category.

Kaity Fassina, a single mother of Hobart was 28 last year when Cikamatana beat her by a kilogram for the gold medal.

Another of Australia’s best is 58kg gold medallist Tia-Clair Toomey.

She will be 27 in 2022. Fiji celebrated when Cikamatana won the only gold medal at Gold Coast after lifting 233kg in the women’s 90kg division.

She lifted 103kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk – both in one attempt with two lifts to spare. She holds three Commonwealth records in her weight class, and is an Olympian.

“Time is on my side,” she said.

Cikamatana has been training in Noumea after she was suspended by WF.

The 2017 Fiji Sportswoman of the Year was not nominated in the 2018 Fiji Sports Awards for winning Fiji’s lone gold medal after 16 years in the Commonwealth Games.

“The omission of my name from the sports awards did not surprise me. I did not expect Weightlifting Fiji to nominate me. Obviously I am disappointed being the only female gold medallist at a Commonwealth Games in the history of Fiji sport.

“What more can I say. I have been denied my rights by Weightlifting Fiji before and now this. I gave everything for Fiji as a young female lifter.

“Last year I lost the World Juniors, which I would have won easily, the world seniors and this year I am missing the world juniors in my own country and I will miss the world seniors. But, I am young and have a great future ahead of me.”

WF secretary said they felt that despite her great achievement in 2018, she is not a member of WF in good standing.

“As such, WF is unable to nominate her for any 2018 awards.”

FASANOC president Joe Rodan Sr wished Cikamatana well.

“If she has got her PR for Australia, then good luck to her. We cannot do much. That is her choice and her will and we wish her the best and if she qualifies to represent Australia then good for her.

“As far as FASANOC, we respect the national federation which is Weightlifting Fiji which is the sole ownership of weightlifting in Fiji as recognised by the world weightlifting body.”

Meanwhile Levuka Weightlifters Association general secretary, Peni Tawai called on sports organisations to look after their athletes well.

“They are the assets of our sports, not the officials,” Tawai said.

“It is a sad day for Fiji that we have lost our gold medal prospect. This should be a lesson to all of us,” he said.

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