KUALA LUMPUR: Powerlifter Jong Yee Khie has no fear facing defending champion Abdulazeez Ibrahim in the men’s above 72kg category in next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
The Nigerian lifter won gold in the last Games in Glasgow in 2014 with a lift of 197kg while India’s Rajinder Rahelu (180.5kg) bagged the silver and Yee Khie (179kg) settled for bronze.
But the Sarawak athlete is confident of a better outing in his second Games after lifting a personal best of 212kg at the IPC Powerlifting World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2016 to win the bronze medal.
“I am physically and mentally in good shape and I am eyeing a personal best of 215kg to win gold,” said the 29-year-old at the Kampung Pandan Paralympic Training Centre yesterday.
“I do not fear competing against anyone including Abdulazeez,” he added.
“Abdulazeez was out of action for a year as he suffered a shoulder injury. He is making a return after a long layoff and I don’t think that he is in good form.
“I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to create history in the Games,” said Yee Khie, who had an excellent outing in competitions last year.
He broke his Asean Para Games record with a lift of 210kg to retain the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur last September.
He improved his lift by eight kilogrammes as his previous record was 202kg, set in Singapore in 2015.
Yee Khie also did well to finish sixth with a lift of 208kg at the IPC World Championships in Mexico last November.
Coach Jamil Adam said Yee Khie has been training hard and he has a bright chance of winning gold in powerlifting.
“I have faith in Yee Khie as he has made steady progress since he started his career in powerlifting 10 years ago.
“It takes more than 10 years for a powerlifter to be a mature athlete,” said Jamil, who has almost 30 years of experience in coaching.
Besides Yee Khie, Bonnie Bunyau will be making his debut in the below 72kg category.
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