Stunner to savour

Up for heavy task: Malaysia’s Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman in action during the women’s 86kg event. — AP

PETALING JAYA: National weightlifter Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman arrived at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with little expectation of challenging the top lifters, but she stunned even herself by powering her way to a historic silver medal.

The 20-year-old delivered another medal to Malaysian weightlifting’s already impressive outing in Scotland, adding a silver to the five gold and one bronze medal tally on Thursday.

Aqilah finished second in the women’s 86kg event with a total lift of 253kg, made up of 113kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk.

The Terengganu-born athlete, who only joined the national team two years ago, also became the first Malaysian female lifter to win a Commonwealth Games silver medal.

“I knew I was going up against some of the best lifters to fight for a medal, and I didn’t have any expectation that I would be contending for a medal in the first place,” said Aqilah.

“But I just remembered what my coach kept saying, which was to just do my best and the result will come.

“And I have proved that I can do it. All the pain and sacrifices for the country were worth it.”

Aqilah finished behind England’s Emily Campbell, who defended her gold medal with a Games record total of 278kg, lifting 115kg in the snatch and setting another Games record in the clean and jerk with a 163kg lift.

Canada’s Etta Love settled for bronze after lifting a total of 250kg.

Aqilah dedicated her win to her parents in Terengganu, as well as her coaches and those who had supported her in making the result in Glasgow possible.

“I’m very happy and excited because I had never expected to get a medal here.

“I dedicate this to my parents who are back home and all the coaches and people who have supported me to be the best I can,” she said.

Malaysia’s weightlifting squad in Glasgow had already clinched an impressive five gold medals through Aniq Kasdan (60kg), Aznil Bidin (65kg), Erry Hidayat (79kg), Hafizuddin Roslin (88kg) and Syahmi Nor Ghazali (94kg), as well as a bronze from Irene Jane Henry in the women’s 48kg event.