Papua New Guinea Heavy Weight Gold Medalist Dika Toua has a strict goal to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games set in July.
The qualification progression involves athletes across the world to participate in 5 international Events for the coveted 12 spots.
Toua weighing 49kg sat on a 166kg Total as she walked to the platform, at the final qualification.
Toua walked the platform weighing 49kg and sat on 166kg at the final qualification event, over Easter. Her Nearest rival held 170kg.
Toua, who will be 40 in June, was aiming to become the first weightlifter ever to compete at six Olympic Games.
Toua filled with hope, still attempts to set an Olympic record on her final shot on day one of the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
Toua’s duo rivals, the Madagascar Randafiarison holding 170kg and Australian Brenna Kean expected to her usual 64kg class, lost weight to compete under the 49kg class.
Since 2019’s outstanding efforts from Toua, she courageously competed first and totalled an impressive 171kg.
This followed two misses in the snatch and jerk.
The Madagascan took the last qualification spot, pulling out a 172kg total.
Starting her career last century and who was the first women ever to go on the platform at the Olympic Games, competed at Sydney 2000, Athens 2024, Beijing 2028, London 2012 and Tokyo three years ago.
“I’m going to Fiji in September for the commonwealth championships, Fiji has the world Masters straight afterwards so I might as well try that too. It’s been a great Journey but it’s not over yet.”
“I want to be in the Pacific Games in Palau next year. I can’t stop, weight lifting is my life,” said Toua.
After Phuket, Toua arrives home on Friday only to travel immediately to lift in Goroka Eastern Highlands Province on Saturday for the PNG Championship.
Toua still has a chance of going to Paris via a universality place.
These six “Wild Card” invitations from the international Olympic Committee go to Nations who do not qualify many athletes, in all sports, for the Olympic Games. Toua is among the 32 weightlifting applicants from 28 countries.
“I have faith that I will be in Paris,” said Toua.