David Liti delivers golden finish as Pacific athletes keep Glasgow momentum rolling

Pacific athletes continued to make their mark at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with New Zealand's Tongan weightlifting star David Liti producing a dramatic late comeback to claim heavyweight gold.

Liti delivered one of the biggest moments of the weightlifting competition, lifting a Games record 223kg in the clean and jerk to snatch victory in the men's +110kg division.

Trailing India's Lovepreet Singh after the snatch, Liti and his coaching team took a bold gamble, forcing Singh to chase a lift he could not make before the Aucklander successfully completed his 223kg attempt.

The lift secured Liti his second Commonwealth Games gold medal and a Games record total of 389kg, edging Singh by just one kilogram overall.

"Can I get a watch for the Games record?" he said after his win.

"I'm honestly trying to process this whole feeling right now. I don't know whether to celebrate or to fight someone or to cry right now."

New Zealand weightlifter David Liti raises the hand of long-time coach Tina Ball after claiming Commonwealth Games gold in the men's +110kg division at Glasgow 2026. Photo/Facebook

Liti later told RNZ he relished the battle with his Indian rival. "To be better we need to compete against each other, we're friends who just want to be the best they can be. Today I have the gold and maybe next time he would."

The roaring Glasgow crowd also helped lift his performance. "It's the best feeling, the crowd was crazy, such a good crowd. I didn't think any crowd could match Gold Coast. It helped a lot with the confidence and the adrenaline to get up on the platform.

"I think we had more Kiwis than Scots there today, so very very proud."

New Zealand Commonwealth Games flagbearer David Liti and judoka Moira de Villiers lead the team into the opening ceremony at Glasgow 2026, before going on to win gold in the men's +110kg weightlifting event. Photo/Glasgow2026

Liti later embraced long-time coach Tina Ball, who has guided him throughout his career.

"I thank her for everything I do, I'm very proud of her for looking after me and my emotions," he said.

The 30-year-old adds the Glasgow title to the gold he won on the Gold Coast in 2018 after taking silver in Birmingham four years ago.

Elsewhere in the heavyweight competition, Tonga's Sikoti Manumua Jr finished fifth with a total lift of 330kg, while Sāmoa's Sanele Mao did not complete the event.

The Pacific story also continued on the bowling greens where Niue's Keith and Catherine Papani are proving that competing on one of the sport's biggest stages is about more than results.

Keith Papani, who is playing in the men's pairs alongside Tifaga Tupuiliu, said simply sharing the green with the world's best has been a memorable experience.

Team Niue's lawn bowls squad proudly represents the island nation at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Keith and Catherine Papani among the five bowlers competing against some of the world's best. Photo/Glasgow2026

"It's been a humbling experience. All the best players are here. That's the humbling part of it - getting the chance to play against some of the best players in the world."

Niue, with a population of about 1,900, has five bowlers competing in Glasgow, including husband-and-wife duo Keith and Catherine.

Catherine hopes their appearance will inspire a new generation back home.

"It's an intergenerational sport," the 61-year-old said. "And we are going to go back and develop our youth and have a succession plan."

Keith said children in Niue are already following the team's progress.

"There are lots of kids who want to play. We've been sending photos and videos back home, so hopefully they'll see it and give Bowls a go.

"Some of the games are on TV and a lot of people back home are getting up early to watch. It's probably three o'clock in the morning there, so they're making a real effort to follow the games."

The Pacific campaign in Glasgow is far from over.

More athletes will be in action on Friday across lawn bowls, athletics, netball, judo and boxing as the region looks to build on an already memorable opening week of competition.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games ends on Monday (NZ time). For more details, click here.