MWF push for Aznil’s RTG inclusion as lifters eye four golds

In form: Aznil Bidin finished fifth at the World Championships in Norway last October and followed it up with a silver in the men’s 65kg category at the Thailand SEA Games in December.

BUKIT JALIL: Two is better than one.

The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) are pushing for their second-ranked Aznil Bidin to join Aniq Kasdan in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.

MWF president Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the federation have formally proposed Aznil’s inclusion and were awaiting a decision from the RTG committee, which are expected to meet in the coming weeks.

“We currently have Aniq in the programme and we’ve recommended Aznil as well. Now we wait for the committee’s decision,” said Ayub at the National Sports Council yesterday.

The 31-year-old earned his case for selection after finishing fifth at the World Championships in Norway last October – his best-ever result at the global meet – and followed it up with a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Thailand SEA Games in December.

Meanwhile, MWF have set an ambitious target of four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23-Aug 2, aiming to better their 2022 Birmingham haul of two golds and one silver.

In Birmingham, Aniq (55kg) and Aznil (61kg) struck gold while Erry Hidayat secured silver (73kg).

“Based on previous results, three golds is realistic, but getting a fourth would be even better,” Ayub said.

The federation will be banking on Aniq, Aznil, Erry, Mohd Syahmi Nor Ghazali and Mohd Hafizuddin Roslin to deliver in Glasgow, with the national squad set to undergo a month-long training stint in Turkiye as part of their preparations.