Latest news with #CommonwealthChampionships
The Star
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Malaysian cueist makes history with blackball crown
Focused: Klaudia Djajalie in action during the Commonwealth Championships women's blackball event in Mauritius. PETALING JAYA: Cueist Klaudia Djajalie made history for Malaysia after winning the women's blackball title in the Commonwealth Championships in Mauritius on Monday. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
The Star
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Klaudia makes history by winning blackball crown at C'wealth meet
PETALING JAYA: Cueist Klaudia Djajalie made history for Malaysia after winning the women's blackball title in the Commonwealth Championships in Mauritius on Monday. The 36-year-old overcame Emma Cunningham 5-4 in her opening match and went on to beat another Englishwoman Val Finnie 5-2 to enter the semis. Klaudia stormed into the final after a confident 5-0 win over Botswana's Malebogo Latlhang in the semis. In a thrilling final showdown, it was Klaudia who held her nerves to stop South African opponent Erin Maree Lazarus of South Africa 5-3 to be crowned champion. Blackball is also known as English pool. Klaudia's win comes just a week after Rory Thor Chuan Leong and Lim Kok Leong potted their way to the podium at the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ Team Flagbearer David Liti Lifts Through Grief To Win Double Gold At Pacific Mini Games
Aotearoa's champion Tongan-Kiwi weightlifter David Liti won two gold medals in the men's 110kg+ clean and jerk and the men's overall, and a silver in the snatch. , RNZ Pacific digital journalist in Koror, Palau Aotearoa's champion Tongan-Kiwi weightlifter David Liti has dominated at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, bringing home two gold medals, in the 110kg+ clean and jerk and the men's overall, and a silver in the snatch on Saturday. Liti's performance was a boost for the New Zealand weightlifting team, who finished the Mini Games with a total of eight medals: two gold, three silver, and three bronze. The lead-up to the Mini Games, however, was anything but easy for Liti. The second youngest of eleven siblings, he has spent the past month grieving the loss of his mother Sisi Luisa to cancer. With limited time and focus for training ahead of the competition in Palau, Liti admitted he hadn't expected to perform at his best, or find success on the platform. 'I took a lot of time off…with my mum being sick and passing away in the last month,' he said. 'Mentally, it was a little bit tough, but I knew I had to come back for her. My mum would be angry at me if I didn't. 'It was a really awkward, weird, successful day,' Liti said. 'I did not come in expecting to take home gold, but with a little bit of last-minute plans and tactical plays outside in the back room, we managed to surpass all those hurdles and come out with the gold today.' In saying that, he came and did what he 'needed to do'. 'After these past few months,we did what we needed to do. We came into this slowly…I mean, there's always room for improvement. But today is done – whatever is done is done – and I'm happy,' Liti said. Looking ahead, Liti is focused on what's next, with the Commonwealth Championships in India just weeks away and bigger competitions, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, on the horizon. 'The build-up from now is to be at peak performance by India, which is another seven to eight weeks from here, and then just carry on to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,' Liti said. Patolo, Soloai also add medals Within the space of a year, Tui-Alofa Patolo and Judy Soloai have taken the weightlifting scene by storm while holding down full-time jobs and only recently stepping into the sport. Alongside Liti, teammates Patolo, 34, and Soloai, 30, added to the team's medal tally with three bronze medals. Soloai claimed bronze in both the women's 86kg+ clean and jerk and the overall total, while Patolo secured bronze in the 86kg+ snatch. The success of both has been impressive, with both weighlifters having only joined the sport within the year. Soloai said that she had initially got into it as a mental outlet. 'My full-time job is as a forensic mental health clinician in Hawkes Bay prison,' she said. 'I think with the mental capacity it takes for me to be at my job, I needed something that was going to be an outlet…I wanted to be active, you know, just something that's more healthier for me.' In October 2024, she tested the waters with weightlifting, and discovered she was a natural talent. 'I didn't realise how naturally strong I was. I met some people… and they kind of encouraged me to pick it up as a sport.' Encouraged by those around her, the results came quickly. 'On my second competition, which was a week after my first, I did get a podium. I hit some numbers that I didn't realise were really good nationally.' That moment changed things for Soloai, and she had nothing to lose by pursuing the sport. 'I thought, you know what? If this is an advantage for me, why not? I've got nothing to lose… and it's just been really, really good. 'I've excelled really fast. This is a sport I think a lot our Pacific and Maori women would thrive in – so people should get in there. It takes consistency and effort to get where you want to be, but it's so worth it.' Alongside Soloai, Patolo has enjoyed similar success, although she almost didn't make it to the Mini Games. After qualifying earlier in the year, she was unsure about committing to the trip. 'I actually wasn't gonna come,' Patolo said. 'I just have a lot going on in my own life. But not everyone gets this opportunity, and what have I got to lose? I've got everything to gain.' It was Soloai's decision to go that ultimately encouraged her. 'If it wasn't for Judy coming as well, I would have never come,' Patolo laughed. 'We just really support each other.' Another source of support is her husband, who said that her husband helped put together make-shift weights at home so that she could train in the garden. Similarly to Soloai, Patolo only joined the sport earlier on in 2024, and leads a busy life as a full-time Court Reporter for the Ministry of Justice, so she aims to train intensively around three times a week. She is also soaking in the successes attributed to her newfound success. 'With what Judy said…the invitation [to join] is not just to young women, it's also to the older wāhine. Because I'm 34…I just think, just get amongst it. You might surprise yourself.'
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ Team Flagbearer David Liti Lifts Through Grief To Win Double Gold At Pacific Mini Games
Aotearoa's champion Tongan-Kiwi weightlifter David Liti has dominated at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, bringing home two gold medals, in the 110kg+ clean and jerk and the men's overall, and a silver in the snatch on Saturday. Liti's performance was a boost for the New Zealand weightlifting team, who finished the Mini Games with a total of eight medals: two gold, three silver, and three bronze. The lead-up to the Mini Games, however, was anything but easy for Liti. The second youngest of eleven siblings, he has spent the past month grieving the loss of his mother Sisi Luisa to cancer. With limited time and focus for training ahead of the competition in Palau, Liti admitted he hadn't expected to perform at his best, or find success on the platform. "I took a lot of time off…with my mum being sick and passing away in the last month," he said. "Mentally, it was a little bit tough, but I knew I had to come back for her. My mum would be angry at me if I didn't. "It was a really awkward, weird, successful day," Liti said. "I did not come in expecting to take home gold, but with a little bit of last-minute plans and tactical plays outside in the back room, we managed to surpass all those hurdles and come out with the gold today." In saying that, he came and did what he "needed to do". "After these past few months,we did what we needed to do. We came into this slowly…I mean, there's always room for improvement. But today is done - whatever is done is done - and I'm happy," Liti said. Looking ahead, Liti is focused on what's next, with the Commonwealth Championships in India just weeks away and bigger competitions, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, on the horizon. "The build-up from now is to be at peak performance by India, which is another seven to eight weeks from here, and then just carry on to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow," Liti said. Patolo, Soloai also add medals Within the space of a year, Tui-Alofa Patolo and Judy Soloai have taken the weightlifting scene by storm while holding down full-time jobs and only recently stepping into the sport. Alongside Liti, teammates Patolo, 34, and Soloai, 30, added to the team's medal tally with three bronze medals. Soloai claimed bronze in both the women's 86kg+ clean and jerk and the overall total, while Patolo secured bronze in the 86kg+ snatch. The success of both has been impressive, with both weighlifters having only joined the sport within the year. Soloai said that she had initially got into it as a mental outlet. "My full-time job is as a forensic mental health clinician in Hawkes Bay prison," she said. "I think with the mental capacity it takes for me to be at my job, I needed something that was going to be an outlet…I wanted to be active, you know, just something that's more healthier for me." In October 2024, she tested the waters with weightlifting, and discovered she was a natural talent. "I didn't realise how naturally strong I was. I met some people... and they kind of encouraged me to pick it up as a sport." Encouraged by those around her, the results came quickly. "On my second competition, which was a week after my first, I did get a podium. I hit some numbers that I didn't realise were really good nationally." That moment changed things for Soloai, and she had nothing to lose by pursuing the sport. "I thought, you know what? If this is an advantage for me, why not? I've got nothing to lose... and it's just been really, really good. "I've excelled really fast. This is a sport I think a lot our Pacific and Maori women would thrive in - so people should get in there. It takes consistency and effort to get where you want to be, but it's so worth it." Alongside Soloai, Patolo has enjoyed similar success, although she almost didn't make it to the Mini Games. After qualifying earlier in the year, she was unsure about committing to the trip. "I actually wasn't gonna come," Patolo said. "I just have a lot going on in my own life. But not everyone gets this opportunity, and what have I got to lose? I've got everything to gain." It was Soloai's decision to go that ultimately encouraged her. "If it wasn't for Judy coming as well, I would have never come," Patolo laughed. "We just really support each other." Another source of support is her husband, who said that her husband helped put together make-shift weights at home so that she could train in the garden. Similarly to Soloai, Patolo only joined the sport earlier on in 2024, and leads a busy life as a full-time Court Reporter for the Ministry of Justice, so she aims to train intensively around three times a week. She is also soaking in the successes attributed to her newfound success. "With what Judy said…the invitation [to join] is not just to young women, it's also to the older wāhine. Because I'm 34...I just think, just get amongst it. You might surprise yourself."
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Explained: Why India will host Pakistani athletes despite visa ban
When the government decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect on April 24, 2025, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attacks, it cast a shadow on the participation of the athletes from across the border in the tournaments to be hosted in India. Those concerns were allayed after a sports ministry official said on Thursday that Pakistani sportspersons will not be stopped from travelling to India to participate in multi-nation tournaments. 'While India won't be involved in the bilateral engagement with Pakistan, we won't be stopping them from participating in the multi-national tournaments India is hosting,' the official said. In 2025 alone, India is scheduled to host at least a dozen international tournaments, both senior and junior, in nearly 10 sports excluding cricket. These include World Cups, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Championships and other tour events in sports like hockey, weightlifting, swimming, badminton, squash and athletics. So, even as the borders and airspace remain closed, and the trade and diplomatic relations remain suspended, athletes from Pakistan will be allowed into the country. This may not necessarily mean that Pakistan's cricketers will travel to India, as the two countries have mutually decided to play at neutral venues until 2027. Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic champion javelin thrower from Pakistan, won't compete in Saturday's Neeraj Chopra Classic because it was an invitational event. The reason to allow Pakistani athletes to take part in tournaments being held in India can be traced to a series of events that took place six years ago. In June 2019, the sports ministry had given in writing to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that the government would 'permit all qualified athletes belonging to any National Olympic Committee…' to take part in events that are held in India. 'Such participation of athletes shall be without prejudice to our principled positions and policies on other political matters including issues such as international recognition or otherwise of the country of origin of the athletes,' the ministry letter added. The written assurance came on the insistence of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had cracked the whip after India did not grant visas to Pakistani athletes. In February 2019, days after the Pulwama terror attacks, a three-member Pakistani team comprising two pistol shooters and a manager was scheduled to arrive in Delhi for the shooting World Cup. However, the Pakistani team withdrew after they did not get visas. There was no official statement from the Indian government but the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the National Rifle Association of Pakistan claimed the visas were not granted because of the terror strikes in Pulwama. The decision resulted in India staring at international isolation. Days later, the IOC accused India of violating the Olympic Charter; specifically the principles of 'non-discrimination.' The world body announced that it had suspended talks with the IOA and the government for hosting sports events in the future. It didn't stop there. The IOC went on to 'recommend' all international federations that they 'neither award nor hold' sports events in India until they receive written assurances from the Indian government that participants from all nations will be guaranteed entry. On Thursday, while saying that Pakistani athletes will be given visas, the sports ministry official pointed to the fact that India could once again be found guilty of violating the Olympic Charter, which would in turn jeopardise the country's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics, among many other events. 'Stopping any nation from participating in international tournaments due to border conflicts violates the Olympic charter, and it is not a good representation of India,' the official said. 'For instance, Russia and Ukraine are at war, but they show up at multi-nation events and compete as well. We are just following the standard norm.' International sport — the Olympic disciplines — is guided by the Olympic Charter and its Rule 44 states that the National Olympic Committees (in this case, the IOA) must 'ensure that no one has been excluded for racial, religious or political reasons or by reason of other forms of discrimination.' The IOC has been strict in implementing this rule. It has, in the past, acted against Kuwait, after the country refused to grant a visa to an Israeli delegate for the Asian Shooting Championship in 2015. A few years later, Malaysia, too, was stripped of the hosting rights for the World Para Swimming Championship after denying a visa to Israelis. More recently, FIFA — which also adheres to the Olympic Charter — took away the hosting rights of the Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia because they did not want to stage games involving Israel. Even the USA, which has imposed a complete travel ban on a dozen countries, has made an exemption for athletes who will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, among other events. During the IOC Session in Mumbai in October 2023, the IOC had said that countries that exclude athletes from competing for political reasons risk harming their plans to host the Olympics. IOC member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the former president of Croatia, flagged the 'growing politicisation of sport' as a problem during that meeting, according to the Associated Press. 'We have witnessed more and more government restrictions being placed on athletes' access to international sporting competitions,' Grabar-Kitarovic said. She added that the IOC panel that holds talks with future Olympic hosts 'must take any infringement of the Olympic Charter into consideration at all stages of the dialogue,' according to AP. 'It is important that all interested parties and preferred hosts commit to abide by the IOC's code of ethics and rules of conduct,' Grabar-Kitarovic said. This message was not lost on India, which on Tuesday sent a high-level delegation to Lausanne for a meeting with the IOC where they pitched for the 2036 Olympics.
