Malaysian lifters moving up the ranks in heavier divisions

Malaysias Siti Aisyah Md Rosli competes during the womens 90kg weightlifting final at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast on April 9, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

MALAYSIA used to be lightweight champions in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games.

But not anymore.

Based on the weightlifters’ recent performance in Gold Coast, they have defied the odds to win in the heavier weight divisions as well.

The stars who have emerged are Muhamad Fazrul Azrie Mohdad in the men’s below 85kg and Siti Aisyah Mohd Rosli in the women’s below 90kg categories.

The 22-year-old Fazrul from Rompin lifted a total of 328kg to deliver the unexpected bronze and broke two national records.

Muhamad Fazrul Azrie Mohdad

Siti, also 22, made a memorable debut by re-writing three national records to finish a respectable fourth with a total lift of 214kg.

Team manager Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim said the future of weightlifting looked bright with the emergence of Fazrul and Aisyah.

“We’re impressed with their performances in Gold Coast. Fazrul and Aisyah are both young and they have the potential to deliver golds at the next 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham,” said Amirul.

Amirul promised to groom these stars to strike medals at next year’s Commonwealth Championships in Samoa and the SEA Games in the Philippines.

“They need to be disciplined and focused to improve further.

“We also want to see a Malaysian woman winning the first medal in weightlifting at the next Games,” said Amirul.

Malaysia also won two gold medals in Gold Coast through Mohd Azroy Hazalwafie Izhar Ahmad (56kg) and Muhd Aznil Bidin (62kg).