No huff and puff from Hafiz as old injury puts paid to his participation

Heavy heart: Mohd Hafiz Shamsuddin has to withdraw from the SEA Games after injuring his shoulder.

AN old injury has flared up for Mohd Hafiz Shamsuddin at the worst possible moment.

Just when the national weightlifter was looking forward to making his second appearance in the SEA Games in Cambodia, his participation has been curtailed by an injury to his left shoulder.

The news came as a blow as the 24-year-old Hafiz had won a bronze in the above 89kg in his debut last year in Vietnam.

“Unfortunately, Hafiz has been forced to pull out of the Games after he aggravated an old injury on his left shoulder,” said team manager Jampi Tutong.

“He has been troubled by the injury since the Commonwealth Games last year in Birmingham.

“He received treatment at the National Sports Institute but the injury became more serious last month and he had no choice but to pull out.”In Hafiz’s absence, Malaysia’s challenge will be carried by Commonwealth Games silver medallist Erry Hidayat (73kg) and debutant Mohd Danial Dahlan (64kg).

Erry had also won bronze in the Vietnam Games.

“Erry is in good physical condition and has just returned from a training stint in Surabaya,” he said.

“Our target this time is only for Erry to win bronze again.

“This is because Aznil Bidin and Aniq Kasdan, who won silver and bronze respectively in Vietnam, are competing in the ongoing Asian Championships in South Korea instead.”

The Asian meet, which is a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics got underway on Tuesday and will end on May 7.

Meanwhile, Nur Atikah Mohd Sobri (59kg) and Nur Syazwani Radzi (64kg) will be representing the country in the women’s events in Cambodia.

The weightlifting competition will be held from May 13-16 at the National Olympic Stadium.