Loro ready to take on the heavyweights

HAVING bagged a brace of gold at the Sarawak Malaysia Games last year, weightlifter Loro Wellkinson is now ready to make his mark among the big boys at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.

The 21-year-old, who will be competing in the men’s 77kg category, has set his sights on making a memorable debut by breaking the national record at the KL Games.

Loro already holds the snatch national record for the 77kg class (145kg) but now wants to break Hafifi Mansor’s clean and jerk national record which stands at 181kg.

Hafifi, who usually competes in the 69kg category, has been known to move up to the 77kg class occasionally.

“I am really excited. This will be my first Sea Games and I do feel a little nervous thinking about it sometimes,” said Loro.

“I do not want to think about my opponents at the Sea Games, I just want to focus on my own performance.

“My goal is quite straightforward, I want to improve on my personal best and also beat Hafifi’s record.

“At the moment my personal best in the clean and jerk is 171kg and I have to be at my best on the day to break the record.

“If I can do it I will likely be in the medals, but again, I do not want to think about that too much. If it (medal) happens, then it is a bonus for me.”

The Sabahan, who is expected to deliver at least a bronze at the games, admitted that he has been carrying a niggling shoulder injury picked up while competing in the Islamic Games in Baku (May) but expects to fully recover for the Sea Games.

Loro is seen as a bright talent for the future and was selected by the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation as the reserve lifter for Hafifi at the Rio Olympics last year.