PETALING JAYA: A medal at the upcoming Commonwealth Games will be the icing on the cake for weightlifter Azizah Fadzil.
Azizah, who has all but confirmed her ticket to the Games from July 23- Aug 3, is looking forward to making a stellar debut in Glasgow.
“It’s an exciting prospect for me to make my Commonwealth Games debut. I’m in great shape and I’ve been lifting well these past few months, I’m hoping that will carry on and I’ll be able to put up a good performance in Glasgow,” said Azizah.
“I’d really love to win a medal ... that’ll be a perfect debut for me,” she added.
Azizah is now ranked second in the 53kg category of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation’s rankings. Papua New Guinea’s Dika Toua is number one while India’s Swarti Singh is ranked third.
The Penangite, however, feels that she still has a lot more to improve in the clean and jerk to ensure she finishes on the podium at the Games as lifters will be judged on a combined total from both the snatch and clean and jerk.
Raihan Yusof was the first Malaysian lifter to win a medal (bronze) at the 2010 Games in New Delhi. She was also competing in the 53kg category.
Azizah is hoping to emulate Raihan’s feat.
“I believe in my own potential. I know I can win a medal, but that doesn’t mean I can rest easy. I’m focused on bettering my lifts, especially in the clean and jerk. I’ll work on that in the next few months,” said Azizah.
Each country is permitted to enter 15 lifters – eight men and seven women – at the Games.
The other two women likely to join Azizah in Glasgow are Syarifah Inani Najwa Syed Omar (48kg) and Nur Jannah Batrisyah (above 75kg).
The final chance for the lifters to earn their places at the Games will take place in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
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