FIJI has lost a top gold medal prospect for the next Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in Japan.
Commonwealth Games 2018 weightlifting gold medallist Eileen Cikamatana has been given a permanent residency status in Australia after she was suspended by Weightlifting Fiji last June because of internal differences.
“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,” she told The Fiji Times from New Caledonia yesterday.
Cikamatana is highly likely to represent Australia in the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Birmingham, UK.
She will be 22 then.
Her inclusion would add to Australia’s medal prospect in the 90kg category alongside Kaity Fassina, 28 last year, whom Cikamatana beat 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.
Cikamatana won Fiji’s only gold medal at the 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.
The 2017 Fiji Sportswoman of then Year was not nominated for the 2018 Fiji Sports Awards this Friday for winning Fiji’s lone gold medal after 16 years in the Commonwealth Games.
