David Liti was the runner-up in the Commonwealth’s heaviest game of cat and mouse.
The New Zealand powerhouse was below his best as he relinquished his Commonwealth Games gold from 2018 to Pakistan’s Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt in the men’s 109+kg category on Thursday morning (NZ time) in Birmingham.
Butt, the Gold Coast bronze medallist in what was then the 105+kg category for the heavyweights, captured gold with a combined total (405kg) of best lifts 11kg more than Liti.
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David Liti of New Zealand, Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt of Pakistan and Singh Gurdeep of India.
“I feel good, I’m happy,” Liti said.
“The medal’s not what we wanted, but it is what it is, another day will come.” Liti said.
Butt set heavier weight targets from the outset and put the pressure on Liti, who missed each of his last attempts in the snatch and the clean and jerk disciplines.
“The game plan is always to try and stay in front – but Muhammad did what he did to keep himself ahead.
“Next time we face off it’ll be a good one. If he comes to worlds, I’ll show him what’s what.”
In the snatch discipline, Liti began his participation smoothly with a successful lift of 166kg which he made look easy.
He then snatched 170kg without too much strain, but couldn’t manage 174kg as he fought a tactical battle with his main rival.
Butt thought he’d registered 175kg as his final total in the category, but it was ruled a no lift, after his second lift was reviewed on video before it was confirmed legitimate at 173kg.
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David Liti feels the strain during the men’s 109+kg final.
In the clean and jerk section, Liti also had success with his first two lifts at 218kg and 224kg, the second which brought a jump of joy from long-time coach Tina Ball.
Prior to the previous Commonwealth Games, Liti set up camp in Te Kauwhata with Ball and that combination helped lead him to gold, and a fifth placing three years later in Tokyo.
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Silver medalist David Liti of New Zealand shares a hug with coach Tina Ball during the medal ceremony.
However, Liti couldn’t handle 232kg, while Butt lifted 225kg and 232kg and didn’t need a third lift as his different technique paid dividends.
Liti said he battled a number of factors in falling short of his best totals.
“I think the progression was different … the atmosphere’s different. Also it’s a 25-hour flight to come here, and it’s only 12 to get to Japan – there’s a lot of difference with the times.”
