Don Opeloge secures silver in the men's 85kg division. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
Samoa have won their first medal of the Commonwealth Games after weightlifter Don Opeloge secured silver in the men's 85kg division.
The 18 year-old lifted a personal best 151kg in the snatch but missed his final two attempts at 188kg and 191kg in the clean and jerk.
He finished with a total of 331kg at the Carrara Sports Arena, seven kilograms behind Venkat Rahul Ragala from India, who also beat him to gold at last year's Commonwealth Championships.
Don Opeloge said he wanted to win the gold medal but made a mistake at a key moment.
"I'm happy but I didn't beat (the gold medallist)...I missed my gold," he said.
"I think we had it (in the clean and jerk) but my arms press - that's why there's no chance for gold but it's ok."
"In my last lift just (a) mistake to think about for the future to come to the next competition."
President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Jerry Wallwork. Photo: RNZI/Vinnie Wylie
Opeloge's coach, Jerry Wallwork, thought the teenager had done enough with his penultimate lift, which would have been a new personal best in the clean and jerk, but two of the three judges ruled his arm was bent too far.
As for the man himself: he's already looking ahead to the next Commonwealth Games in four years time.
"I'm focused to my future plus I'm still young, to the future I want more training, training hard and be a good lifter in the future."
Medal hopes aplenty
Weightlifting continues on the Gold Coast on Sunday with Fiji's Apolonia Vaivai a major contender for gold in the women's 75kg division.
The 27 year-old won bronze in Glasgow four years ago and is a three time reigning Commonwealth Championship gold medallist.
Papua New Guinea's Steven Kari is also in action, looking to defend his 2014 gold medal in the men's 94kg division.
The greens of Broadbeach could also turn gold, silver or bronze if things go to plan on the first day of lawn bowls finals.
Norfolk Island take on Scotland in the men's triples semi finals, while the Cook Islands are one win away from the gold medal match in the men's pairs.
Meanwhile the athletics programme gets underway with Samoan sprinter Jeremy Dodson and Cook Islands flagbearer Patricia Taea among the Pacific stars in action in the 100m heats.
