Heavier category but same target for judoka Amir at second Games

New challenge: Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed will be competing in the heavier 81kg weight category.

PETALING JAYA: Fitness is often synonymous with a lower body weight, but for national judoka Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed, the opposite is true.

The 21-year-old will be competing in the heavier 81kg weight category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, yet his target remains to add to the nation’s medal tally.

In 2022, Amir made history as the first Malaysian judoka to get a medal at the Games, earning a bronze in the 73kg category in Birmingham.

“The target remains for him to defend his medal, even if it is in a different category,” said his coach Mohd Nashriq Mohd Nassir.

At 173cm tall and a usual weight of 80-85kg, Amir would need an aggressive cut to qualify for the 73kg weight range.

Nashriq mentioned that the weight category change was implemented two years ago to safeguard Amir’s long-term health.

“It is not safe for Amir to undergo drastic weight cuts. It will affect him over time.”

Since the transition, Amir has been in redhot form, having won gold at the SEA Championships in Vietnam in May.

Nashriq enphasised Amir’s resolute personality and unwavering determination to succeed, regardless of the weight category.

“He has been training under me since he was five. He is extremely hardworking and is fully aware of his priorities.”

However, Nashriq was wary of the stiff competition at this year’s Games, highlighting Australia, Cyprus, Africa, and Canada as the main obstacles.

Fourth-seeded Amir will face Gabon’s Fernand Nkero in the quarter-finals, with a strong possibility of encountering first-seeded Keishin Ochi of Australia if he advances to the semi-finals.

All rounds of the event will be held on Saturday.