Sports

WF response to Cikamatana regarding women's empowerment

October 22, 2018 4:00 am

Weightlifting Fiji General Secretary Ritesh Ratiram believes that issues within the sport should be resolved by dialogue between the relevant parties, in a spirit of doing what is best for the sport and its participants.

Ratiram made this comment following the Levuka Weightlifting Club made a statement, showing their frustration as Olympic gold medalist Eileen Cikamatana and other athletes will not compete in the World Weightlifting in Turkmenistan next month.

Ratiram responded via email, stating they are proud to have not only empowered Eileen but several other women athletes and officials, within its organization, to be the best they can be.

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He says Cikamatana speaks of empowerment but it is clear that others with an agenda are manipulating her.

Ratiram says there was a strong team behind her, including coaches, volunteers, financiers and administrators and it is sad that she forgetting those who initially helped her establish herself in the sport and gave her the funding and opportunities to excel on the world stage.

He also denied the accusation by Cikamatana who claimed that Weightlifting Fiji denied her the opportunities to win medals at World Championships and Olympic Games.

Weightlifting Fiji stressed that no one removed Cikamatana from representing Fiji, but her herself.

Cikamatana and several other lifters withdrew from the 2018 Oceania Championships and other international meets on their own accord.