Aniq ready to light up heavier event to retain gold

Raising the bar: Aniq Kasdan steps into the 60kg category aiming to prove he can rise to the challenge.

PETALING JAYA: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan is competing in a heavier weight category at the Commonwealth Games but his focus remains the same – to defend his gold medal in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old currently holds the Games record in the 55kg after clinching gold with a total lift of 249kg at the 2022 edition in Birmingham, but faces a challenge when he competes in the 60kg category at the SEC Armadillo tomorrow.

Aniq, however, is heading into the competition with confidence after finishing with silver at the Asian Championships in India in May, although his lift of 277kg was far off his personal best of 297kg.

“I aim to do better than I did before. I promise to do my best to retain the gold medal from four years ago,” said Aniq.

“I’ve put in a lot of hard work in the past few months, and I don’t want it to be wasted.

“There have been many challenges for me to face lately, but I will make the most of the opportunity I have been given at the Commonwealth Games.”

The national weightlifting squad in Glasgow have been set a target of three gold medals, with Aniq being at the forefront of the team’s hopes.

Aniq is joined by compatriots Aznil Bidin (65kg), Erry Hidayat (79kg), Hafizuddin Roslin (88kg), Mohd Syahmi Nor Ghazali (94kg), Farris Haikal (110kg and above) and women lifters Irene Jane Henry (48kg), Nur Syazwani Radzi (63kg) and Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman (86kg and above).