Aniq eyes bigger lift

Final tune-up: Aniq Kasdan secures silver medal in the Asian Championships before heading to the Commonwealth Games.

Silver feat at Asian meet boosts Aniq’s confidence ahead of C’wealth Games

PETALING JAYA: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan heads into the Commonwealth Games with renewed confidence after securing a silver medal at the Asian Championships in India yesterday.

Competing in the 60kg category in Gandhinagar, the 23-year-old produced a total lift of 277kg – 122kg in the snatch and 155kg in the clean and jerk – to finish second.

North Korea’s Pang Un-chol dominated the event with a combined 304kg, while Vietnam’s Lai Gia Thanh took bronze with 267kg.

Despite the podium finish boosting his morale ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 to Aug 2, Aniq admitted he was not fully satisfied with his performance.

“I’m thankful to have won silver at the championships in India. It’s my final competition before the Commonwealth Games.

“I’m happy to be on the podium, even though it wasn’t my best performance. I’m not fully satisfied, but I’m grateful I stayed injury-free,” said Aniq.

MWF president Datuk Ayub Rahmat congratulated Aniq on the achievement but stressed that the federation expect higher standards at the Commonwealth Games, urging him to push closer to his personal best of 297kg set at the Paris Olympic qualifying cycle.

“We congratulate Aniq, but from the federation’s perspective, we are not satisfied with the total lift,” said Ayub.

“However, what matters most is that he is heading to the Commonwealth Games.

“We hope he can improve further and get closer to his best.”

Aniq, who won gold in the 55kg category at the 2022 Birmingham Games with a Games record total of 249kg, will now aim to translate his Asian silver into a stronger showing in Glasgow.