FOUR local weightlifters left the country Monday April 5 for South Africa to train in preparation for next month's African Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia (May 1-7).

Accompanied by coach William Dixie, Clementina Agricole, Julie Matatiken, Janet Thélermont and Sportsman of the Year Steven Baccus are to follow a three-week intensive training programme in South Africa.

They are expected back home in late April before flying to Tunisia to compete in the African Weightlifting Championship which will serve as an Olympic Games qualifier.

A fifth weightlifter, Richard Scheer, who is based and trains in France, is to join Agricole, Matatiken Thélermont and Baccus in Tunisia.

According to Seychelles Weightlifting Association chairman Robert Rose, the local body has decided to send only the five lifters to the championship as they were ranked among the top four in their respective categories at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, last year.

Agricole (1), Matatiken (3), Thélermont (3), Scheer (3) and Baccus (3) were all gold medallists at the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games in Mauritius last year.

In Abuja, Seychelles won five silver and one bronze medals through Thélermont (three silver in the -69-kg), Scheer (a silver and a bronze in the -85-kg) and Baccus (a silver in the -94-kg).

Former Sportslady of the Year Thélermont also won a silver medal at the First Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad, India, last year.

G. G.