New Zealand weightlifter David Liti became a Commonwealth Games champion once again after winning the +110kg class in Glasgow, Scotland. The 30-year-old used clever strategy in the clean and jerk to overtake India’s Lovepreet Singh, who had led since the snatch phase. Liti lifted 223kg on his first attempt to seal the win, finishing with a games record combined weight of 389kg.
Liti said the noisy crowd had helped give him the confidence and energy he needed on the platform. He described the contest as a friendly battle with Singh, saying they pushed each other to be the best they could be. After the competition, Liti was seen embracing his long-time coach, Tina Ball, thanking her for always looking after him.
This was Liti’s second Commonwealth Games gold, after also winning the title in 2018 and taking silver four years later on the Gold Coast. He had also carried the New Zealand flag at the opening ceremony a week earlier. Fellow New Zealander Tuʿi-Alofa Patolo finished fourth in the women’s +86kg class.
Elsewhere in the competition, Fiji celebrated its first gold medal of the Games, with Taniela Rainibogi winning the men’s 110kg weightlifting class.
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