Morea Baru is looking to win three gold medals at the 2023 Pacific Games ©Getty Images

Weightlifter Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea is aiming for all three titles at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands, looking to successfully defend the snatch, clean-and-jerk and total titles in the men's under-61 kilogram category.

Baru won all three gold medals at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, as well as two in the 2015 Games on home soil in Port Moresby, including the overall title.

Now 33, he said he is confident of more golds for the third straight event.

"I am confident and I will win three gold medals for my country, not just one but three," said Baru to the Post-Courier.

Morea Baru has been training with Dika Toua ©Getty Images
Morea Baru has been training with Dika Toua ©Getty Images

He has been preparing alongside women's weightlifter, three-time Pacific Games and Glasgow 2014 champion Dika Toua, at her gym in Hanuabada recently to get in shape for the 2023 season.

Baru's focus begins with a qualification tournament in India in July as he aims to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He is a seven-time Oceania Championships gold medallist and a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, most recently at Birmingham 2022.

Baru also finished sixth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.