HIGH court judge Ronald Bei Talasasa Jr has won a gold medal at the recent Oceania Regional Powerlifting Championship (ORPC) 2024.
The championship was held in Nauru, from 28 October to 2nd November 2024.
A lawyer by profession Talasasa Jnr represented Solomon Islands during the competition and was up against other top athletes at the regional level.
He snatched gold medal in the competition which involved squat, bench and dead lifts.
Speaking to Star Sport in an interview after his successful win Talasasa said, he was overwhelmed with the win especially winning at the regional level.
“I am overwhelmed by the victory especially as it is in the Oceania level.”
He participated in the Oceania Regional Powerlifting Championship on 31 October 2024.
“I competed in the Master 3, 74kg class.
“I was up against the Nauru Champion Micah Waqa and I won gold in the Powerlifting competition which involves the squat, bench and dead lifts.”
Micah settled for silver.
For the bench competition, he managed to win the silver medal while the Nauru Champ Waga walked away with the Gold.
He said, he came to know the game and started his interest to train as a powerlifter when he was in Nauru working as a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Nauru in 2020.
“I was trained by Nauru Commissioner of Police Iven Notte at that time.”
He later joined Blues Gym and coached by former world champion, Jezza Uepa.
After returning to Solomon Islands, Micah became Nauru’s champion.
Fortnight ago Talasasa and Waga met once again representing their own countries.
The high court Judge revealed that he also funded his own cost travel and accommodation expenses to attend the competition in Nauru.
He encouraged other young people to take up the sport and must be willing to show commitment in this energetic sport.
“I encourage young people as well as people of my age to take up Powerlifting.
“I hope this will inspire a lot of young people as well as people of my age.
“It is tough, but if you follow the rules and disciplines in your trainings you will find success in this sport.
“As well as keeping to the right form when lifting weights, you will not go wrong.”
The Oceania Regional Powerlifting Federation (ORPF) is the regional affiliate member of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) covering Oceania.
They are dedicated to growing powerlifting across the Oceania region.
Their goal is to develop and promote high-standard and enjoyable drug-free powerlifting competition at the Oceania International level and to unite all National Powerlifting Federations in the Oceania region
Talasasa has been a Chief de Mission (CdM) for Team Solomon to a number of international competitions such as; Mini Games, Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
His last CdM role was to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.
Talasasa was sworn-in last year by the Acting Governor General, Sir Albert Palmer at the Government House as a new Puisne Judge of the High Court of Solomon Islands.
By RAYMOND HULANGA
Solomon Star, Honiara
